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Project HAVE BLUE

Craft

Lockheed Skunk Works program that developed radar-evading stealth technology and produced the first stealth aircraft prototype

  Origins and Context

Project HAVE BLUE began in 1976 as a DARPA and Air Force initiative to develop the first aircraft with a significantly reduced radar cross-section.1 The program emerged from theoretical work on radar reflection and computer modeling of aircraft signatures.2

  Program Structure

Lockheed's Skunk Works division led the development, using revolutionary "faceted" design principles to redirect radar energy away from receivers.3 The program produced two prototype aircraft, HB1001 and HB1002, testing stealth characteristics and flight performance.4

  Key Developments

The program successfully demonstrated that aircraft could be designed to be virtually invisible to radar detection. Key innovations included:

  • Faceted surface design using flat panels
  • Radar-absorbent materials (RAM) coating
  • Concealed engine inlets and exhausts
  • Specialized flight control systems for unstable aerodynamics

  Legacy and Impact

HAVE BLUE directly led to the development of the F-117 Nighthawk stealth fighter.5 The program's success revolutionized military aviation and established fundamental principles for stealth technology that influenced all subsequent low-observable aircraft designs.

  References

  1. "Skunk Works: A Personal Memoir of My Years at Lockheed" by Ben Rich ↩

  2. Defense Technical Information Center, "HAVE BLUE Program Overview" ↩

  3. Aviation Week & Space Technology, "Stealth Technology Development" ↩

  4. Air Force Historical Research Agency, "Project HAVE BLUE Technical Report" ↩

  5. Lockheed Martin Corporation, "Origins of Stealth Technology" ↩

Published on January 1, 1976

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