F-117 was not shot down because of the IWBs. Serbia radar detected it, EW support was not present at the sortie. F-117 was shot 3-4 times and each except 1 returned to base with minor or heavy damage
Americans were sloppy and kept using the same routes, and the Serbian radar detected it at 15 miles, and it was engaged at 5 miles when the weapon bays were open which is nothing to brag about.
When the F-117 was going to be shot down, the flight path was leaked to the Serbs by the French (I'm not sure if the French actually did it, but I have no doubt there was an inside intelligence leak). The Serbs also deployed an air defense system on the plane's route and began to wait. This was an operation that consisted entirely of chasing a pinpoint opportunity target with intelligence support.
Indeed, iirc Serbs got the plans by observing the movements and spying on either the french or Italians
I’m also pretty sure that the radar involved in the shoot down was a VHF band P-18 that can detect the F-117 at closer ranges than fighter jet radars or ground based radars operating in S band for example.
Yep. But let's not forget that it was a reaaaallly old radar
A bit like RussiansSerbs with f117 shot down believe they also shot down a B2.
But have shown no proof of it but the Serbs still insist that they shot one
