F117a Nighthawk, stealth fighter. Computer artwork of the United States Air Force Nighthawk, a tactical bomber which uses stealth technology to make it almost invisible to radar. It uses specially designed paint and angular lines to deflect radar, enabling it to deliver payloads undetected. Although officially designated as a fighter plane, it is unlikely that it has air-to- air capabilities. It becomes visible when wet or when opening its bomb doors. Its unorthodox aerodynamics also make it unstable at low speeds. Later generations of stealth craft used different technologies to enable them to have more curved surfaces.