RAT55 was observed flying over Area 51 and performing touch-and-go maneuvers before landing on runway 32 at Groom Lake. The aircraft later moved toward Hangar 18, whose sliding doors opened as the jet arrived. RAT55 has a distinctive 'fat nose', top and belly humps, and a rear protrusion, and serves as an in-flight radar cross-section test platform to evaluate stealth signatures of other aircraft, reportedly supporting RQ-80 UAV development. Operations occur in restricted ranges like R-258 and sometimes involve transponder shutdowns. The jet operates under the call sign 'Saber 98' and carries advanced radar systems.
The US Air Force's top-secret RAT55 jet was spotted soaring over Area 51 in Nevada, confirming rumors that this enigmatic radar plane operates from the clandestine Groom Lake facility. Aviation enthusiast Michael Rokita captured the aircraft from a vantage point 26 miles away near Tikaboo Peak, documenting its touch-and-go maneuvers and final landing on runway 32. Minutes after landing, the RAT55 was linked to Hangar 18, Area 51's largest and most mysterious hangar, as its massive sliding doors were seen open,
The RAT55, distinguished by its 'fat nose,' 'hump on the top,' 'hump on the belly,' and 'big protrusion in the back,' is a specialized aircraft designed for in-flight radar cross-section testing. This capability allows it to evaluate the stealth profiles of other aircraft mid-air, a critical function rumored to have supported the development of the RQ-80 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).
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