The Department of Defense announced today, Sept. 11, 1996, the deployment of U.S. Air Force F-117A Nighthawk aircraft, shown in this file photograph, to the Persian Gulf area of operations. The F-117A Nighthawk is the world's first operational aircraft designed to exploit low-observable stealth technology. The F-117A can employ a variety of weapons and is equipped with sophisticated navigation and attack systems integrated into a state-of-the-art digital avionics suite that increases mission effectiveness and reduces pilot workload. Detailed planning for missions into highly defended target areas is accomplished by an automated mission planning system developed, specifically, to take advantage of the unique capabilities of the F-117A. The aircraft will be deploying from the 49th Fighter Wing, Holloman Air Force Base, N.M.