[dglang]

The F in F-117 refers to 'fighter', but the planes dual role is 'fighter-bomber' in that it carries two 2000 pound intelligent bombs. The B-2 is a 'pure' bomber.

The B-52, while able to carry a large bomb load, has no capability to control the intelligent bombs as the F-117 does. During the last days of the Gulf War, the B-52's were to be loaded with the intelligent bombs and be accompanied by an F-117 which would control them as they were released one by from the B-52.

With the advent of the new JDAM bombs which are controlled by the GPS, the need for the F-117 escort would be reduced if we knew the exact coordinates of the targets to be hit.

[Enlightiator]

The F in F-117 refers to 'fighter', but the planes dual role is 'fighter-bomber' in that it carries two 2000 pound intelligent bombs. The B-2 is a 'pure' bomber. This is a good description of the F-117 capabilities. Other fighers have dual roles as fighter/bombers, and all of them have limited bomb carrying capacity. However, as far as what to call it, the F117 and is generally referred to as a fighter by the Air Force, not a "bomber," not a "fighter/bomber" but a fighter.

You are right about the B-52H's ability to carry precision guided bombs - in fact, it was a B-52H that dropped a 2000 lb precision guided bomb in the unfortunate friendly fire incident that killed US and NA troops in Afghanistan. The B-52H can also carry up to 20 cruise missles, Harpoons, and Hav Naps. The B52H isn't just a "dumb bomb" bomber anymore.

[Enlightiator]

With the advent of the new JDAM bombs which are controlled by the GPS, the need for the F-117 escort would be reduced if we knew the exact coordinates of the targets to be hit.

I didn't know this till tonight, but in doing a search on the B-52 friendly fire incident, I found out that it was a JDAM precision guided bomb that was involved in the friendly fire incident. Maybe you knew this, but I didn't, I just read it at: High-tech weapons, high-risk war.