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The Boeing NT-43A “RAT 55” is a one-of-a-kind radar testbed aircraft operated by the United States Air Force, designed specifically to evaluate and validate the stealth characteristics of advanced military aircraft. Originally constructed as a Boeing T-43A, which itself was a modified version of the Boeing 737-200 used from the 1970s to train Air Force navigators, the aircraft was later withdrawn from training duty and given extensive modifications to transform it into a flying radar laboratory. The “N” prefix in its designation indicates a permanent test modification, while its call sign and nickname “RAT 55” reflect its mission as a radar test platform. The NT-43A is unique in that it is the only aircraft of its type in existence, making it a critical national asset for low-observable technology testing and validation.

The aircraft’s primary role is to measure the radar cross-section (RCS) of stealth aircraft across a wide range of radar frequencies, angles, and conditions. This capability allows the Air Force and aerospace engineers to verify that aircraft such as the F-117 Nighthawk, B-2 Spirit, F-22 Raptor, and F-35 Lightning II perform as intended against radar detection. It provides direct, in-flight radar measurement data that ground-based facilities cannot fully replicate, offering insights into how stealth aircraft appear to both legacy and modern radar systems in operational scenarios. The NT-43A supports not only initial development and testing of stealth platforms but also ongoing sustainment checks, ensuring that stealth aircraft maintain their low observability throughout their service life.

To carry out this mission, the NT-43A underwent heavy modification, most visibly with the addition of large nose and tail radomes that house specialized radar systems. These radomes allow for the projection and reception of radar signals across multiple bands. The fuselage is also fitted with an array of antennas and sensors designed to collect telemetry, electronic warfare signatures, and environmental data. Internally, the aircraft is equipped with advanced instrumentation, operator consoles, and data-processing systems that allow onboard test engineers to capture and analyze radar returns in real time. This configuration gives RAT 55 the capability to act as both an emitter and a receiver, simulating how enemy radar systems might detect or fail to detect U.S. stealth platforms.

Visually, RAT 55 differs significantly from the standard T-43A trainers. Whereas the original T-43 fleet carried a white-and-orange high-visibility paint scheme, the NT-43A is painted in a distinctive dark blue or black livery, which not only distinguishes it from other 737 variants but also reflects its special mission profile. The presence of its oversized radomes and external antennas makes it instantly recognizable to observers, despite the secrecy that surrounds its operations.

Operationally, the NT-43A has been associated with several key Air Force testing hubs. It is operated by the Air Force Test Center, primarily linked to Edwards Air Force Base in California, though it has also been spotted at the Tonopah Test Range and has connections to activities at Groom Lake (Area 51), both facilities long associated with stealth development and classified flight testing. Its missions are often conducted in coordination with prototype or operational stealth aircraft, flying chase or parallel tracks to collect precise radar cross-section data during test flights. Because of the classified nature of its work, RAT 55 is rarely seen publicly, and detailed records of its missions remain undisclosed.

In terms of importance, the NT-43A plays a role few other platforms can. Ground-based radar ranges, such as those at Groom Lake or White Sands, can measure static or limited dynamic radar cross-sections, but only RAT 55 provides the in-flight, all-aspect measurement capability needed to fully evaluate stealth performance under realistic flight conditions. This ensures that the U.S. Air Force’s investment in stealth technology remains effective against both current and emerging radar threats.

In summary, the Boeing NT-43A “RAT 55” Radar Cross Section Test Aircraft is a singular platform in the U.S. Air Force inventory, created from a Boeing 737-200 and permanently modified to serve as a flying radar laboratory. With its oversized nose and tail radomes, multiple external sensors, and highly specialized electronic suite, it has been the cornerstone of America’s stealth testing efforts since the late 1980s. Its role is to ensure that U.S. stealth aircraft remain invisible where it matters most—on the radar screens of potential adversaries—and as such, it continues to be one of the most secretive and indispensable aircraft in the Air Force’s arsenal.

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