With such a low radar return signal, Tacit Blue demonstrated that such an aircraft could operate close to the battlefield forward line without fear of being discovered by enemy radar. It could continuously monitor enemy forces behind the battlefield and provide targeting information to a ground command center.
Tacit Blue (Whale)
This aircraft was built to test advances in stealth technology. It demonstrated that curved surfaces on an aircraft result in a low radar return signal from ground radar. The aircraft made its first flight in February 1982 and by the conclusion of the program in 1985 had flown 135 times.