Editing Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk (section)

=== Post-retirement service===
The USAF is currently using the aircraft in [[aggressor squadron]] and [[cruise missile]] training, and research and development. USAF has also slowed the retirement of its current inventory of about 45 F-117s to two to three units a year. This plan should extend the lifetime of the F-117 program to 2034.{{r|durso20230110}}<ref name="demilitarizing"/>
In March 2019, four F-117s reportedly had been secretly deployed to the Middle East in 2016, and that one had to make an emergency landing at [[Ali Al Salem Air Base|Ali Al Salem]], Kuwait sometime late that year.<ref>{{cite web |first=Dario |last=Leone |url=https://theaviationgeekclub.com/one-of-the-f-117s-secretly-deployed-to-the-middle-east-to-take-part-in-oir-made-emergency-landing-in-kuwait-scramble-magazine-says |title="One of the F-117s secretly deployed to the middle East to take part in OIR made emergency landing in Kuwait", Scramble Magazine Says |website=The Aviation Geek Club |date=11 April 2019 |access-date=13 April 2019}}</ref>

[[File:A U.S. Air Force F-117 Nighthawk lands during Northern Edge 23-1 at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, May 10, 2023.jpg|thumb|left|F-117 Nighthawk during Northern Edge 23-1 at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, May 2023]]
On 13 September 2021, a pair of F-117s landed at [[Fresno Yosemite International Airport]] in California. They were scheduled to train with the [[California Air National Guard]] [[F-15]]C/D Eagles of the [[144th Fighter Wing]] over the next few days.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/42410/behold-f-117s-on-their-historic-delpoyment-t0-fresno-in-these-stunning-photos |title= Behold F-117s on Their Historic Deployment to Fresno in These Stunning Shots |website=The Drive |date=16 September 2021}}</ref> One aircraft had red letters on its tail, and the other had white letters. One of the two was observed to not be fitted with radar reflectors.<ref>{{cite web |first=Tyler |last=Rogoway |url=https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/42360/f-117s-make-surprise-arrival-at-fresno-yosemite-airport-to-train-against-local-f-15s |website= The Drive |date=13 September 2021 |title=F-117s Make Surprise Appearance At Fresno Airport To Train Against Local F-15s |access-date=13 September 2021}}</ref> That year, USAF published photographs on [[DVIDS]], the first acknowledgement by the service that the aircraft continued to fly after its official retirement.{{r|durso20230110}}

In January 2022, two F-117s were observed in flight in the [[Saline Valley#Military use|Saline Military Operating Area]]. One had portions of its exterior covered in a "mirror-like coating" believed to be an experimental treatment to reduce the aircraft's infrared signature.<ref name="TheDriveFeb2022">{{cite web |last1=Rogoway |first1=Tyler |title=F-35 And F-117 Spotted Flying With Mysterious Mirror-Like Skin |url=https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/43938/f-35-and-f-117-spotted-flying-with-mysterious-mirror-like-skin |website=The Drive |date=23 January 2022 |access-date=19 February 2022 |language=en}}</ref>

[[File:F-117s tailing a KC-135.jpg|thumb|F-117s trailing a [[Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker|KC-135 Stratotanker]], October 2023]]
In May 2022, an F-117 participated in exercise Savannah Sentry at the Air Dominance Center in Savannah, Georgia. It was a joint exercise with both active USAF and [[Air National Guard]] units. In a video documenting the exercise, an off-screen crew member stated that about 48 flyable F-117s are in USAF inventory. They stated that the F-117 is sometimes used in aggressor-type training roles and was brought to Savannah Sentry to participate in an "unclassified capacity".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Killian |first1=Mike |title=F-117 Nighthawk Up Close at Sentry Savannah 2022 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJCWxH3TBLk |website=YouTube |date=May 7, 2022}}</ref> On 1 February 2024, two F-117s were seen at testing range R-2508 in the Mojave Desert.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.twz.com/air/the-most-stunning-f-117-photos-weve-seen-since-its-retirement |title=The Most Stunning F-117 Photos We've Seen Since Its 'Retirement' |publisher=The Warzone|date=4 February 2024}}</ref>