The U.S. Air Force planned in 2024 to certify the F-117A Nighthawk to be able to refuel from the KC-46A Pegasus, the service’s newest tanker.
Two F-117 Nighthawks have been spotted while refueling from a KC-46 Pegasus tanker on Sept. 30, 2025. The tanker, callsign “Medusa 80 Heavy,” and the two stealth fighters, callsign “Knight 01,” were flying southbound over the Los Angeles area, headed towards the ranges off the coast of California.
The photos were shared on X by freelance news photojournalist Matt Hartman, who kindly allowed us to include them in this article. These are possibly the first photos of the KC-46 refueling the F-117 since the announcement of the certification effort.
In fact, as we reported in September 2024 here at The Aviationist, the U. S. Air Force was planning to certify the F-117A Nighthawk to be able to refuel from the KC-46A Pegasus. Although the F-117 was officially retired in 2008, the stealth jet continued to fly unofficially from Tonopah Test Range (TTR) airfield in Nevada, and the service’s current plan is to keep the aircraft flying at least until 2034.
c/s KNIGHT01 FLT of 2 !!!!
— Matt Hartman (@ShorealoneFilms) October 1, 2025
The KC-46, departed from McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas, was tracked on ADS-B, which showed the route of the flight. After arriving in California, the tanker orbited north of Edwards AFB, where it performed a rendez-vous with the F-117s.
MDUSA80 (KC-46) wkg JOSHUA CONTROL to pick up NIGHT01 flt (F-117) out of Groom Lake/Area 51? since Tonopah Test Range is still closed per NOTAM.
Audio via @liveatc and tracking via @ADSBex https://t.co/tcyb9oOR9F pic.twitter.com/2GEcd0iNRZ
— Thenewarea51 (@thenewarea51) October 1, 2025
It is unclear from where the Nighthawks departed, as obviously their flight could not be tracked. However, we previously reported that a number of F-117s might be operating out of Groom Lake while the TTR airfield is closed for works.
The F-117s were possibly headed towards the Point Mugu Sea Range. The tanker was, in fact, tracked while orbiting south of San Clemente Island, which is just out of the southeastern corner of the range.
KC-46 Certification with the F-117
In September 2024, the U. S. Air Force announced it was planning to certify the F-117A Nighthawk to be able to refuel from the KC-46A Pegasus, the service’s newest tanker. This development followed the Request For Information (RFI) for a 10-year contract to keep the aircraft flying at least until 2034.
The increased activity is also in line with the public acknowledgment of the F-117’s operation following the retirement, with the first official photos since the retirement released in 2021. The ability of the F-117 to be refueled by the KC-46 certainly reflects this will to keep the Nighthawk flying for ten more years.
It is unclear when the certification of the KC-46 with the F-117 took place. However, we can say the test campaign was possibly conducted over the Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR), where the F-117s primarily operate, and where the chances of being spotted during the tests are lower.
The F-117A after 2008
Years after being officially retired, F-117s are still flying not only for training purposes as adversary aircraft and cruise missile surrogate, but also for research, development, test and evaluation, possibly related to next generation programs. The instances of the Nighthawks being spotted became much more frequent, with a number of photos also officially released by the Air Force.
In accordance with of the Nation Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) of 2007, 52 F-117 aircraft were retired and relocated to the Tonopah Test Range (TTR). Each aircraft was preserved in Type-1000 (T-1000) storage, which maintains the aircraft in a condition that allows recall for future service. In 2016 it was decided to start divesting some of the aircraft.
As of January 2023, of the 59 F-117s built, approximately 45 F-117s were in the inventory, with more than 10 already approved for transfer to museums. The current disposal rate is only between two and three jets per year, instead of four per year announced in 2017.
The aircraft continued to be spotted, even more than it had happened until then, with the Nighthawks also deploying to several U.S. bases. The iconic stealth jet, after the veil of secrecy was, at least partially, lifted, and the sightings have increased, still continues to catch the interest of many aviation enthusiasts, and it will continue to do so for the foreseeable future.
