December 19, 1989 The Lockheed F-117A was developed in response to an Air Force request for an aircraft capable of attacking high value targets without being detected by hostile radar systems. By the 1970s, special materials and techniques had become available to aircraft designers that would allow them to design an aircraft with radar-evading or "stealth" qualities.

The result was the F-117A, the world's first operational aircraft that fully incorporated radar evading techniques. The first  F-117A flew on June 18, 1981 and the first F-117A unit, the 4450th Tactical Group, achieved initial operating capability in October 1983. The 4450th was renamed the 37th Tactical Fighter Wing in October 1989. The F-117A was first used in combat during operation JUST CAUSE on December 19, 1989 when two F-117As from the 37th TFW attacked military targets in Panama.