Top-Secret Jet Seen Over Area 51

The Enigma of the US Air Force’s RAT55 Jet

The US Air Force's top-secret aircraft, known as the RAT55 jet, has been spotted flying over Area 51 in Nevada, fueling long-standing speculation about its operations. This mysterious radar plane is believed to be based at the clandestine Groom Lake facility, a location steeped in secrecy and intrigue.

Aviation enthusiast Michael Rokita captured the aircraft from a vantage point 26 miles away near Tikaboo Peak. His footage showed the jet performing touch-and-go maneuvers before landing on runway 32. Shortly after landing, the RAT55 was seen taxiing towards Hangar 18, the largest and most enigmatic hangar at Area 51. The massive sliding doors of the hangar were open, indicating that the jet had entered the facility.

The RAT55 is easily recognizable by its distinctive features: a 'fat nose,' a 'hump on the top,' a 'hump on the belly,' and a 'big protrusion in the back.' It 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, an essential function that is rumored to have supported the development of the RQ-80 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).

Its operations are typically shrouded in secrecy, conducted in restricted airspace such as the R-258 range near Edwards Air Force Base. There, the jet often disappears from flight tracking systems by switching off its transponder. Rokita's sighting confirmed that the RAT55 uses the call sign 'Saber 98,' a significant breakthrough that links the jet's covert communications to Area 51's operations, reinforcing its presence in Hangar 18.

Rokita used a Nikon P1000 camera and a custom binocular-smartphone setup to capture the event. Despite technical challenges, including a dying battery and desert heat haze, he managed to document this rare occurrence. The RAT55 is outfitted with advanced radar systems and is primarily used as a test platform for evaluating the radar signatures of stealth aircraft. This includes both existing models like the B-2 Spirit, which undergoes regular testing to ensure its radar cross-section meets expectations, and new prototypes currently under development.

With at least two major manned stealth programs underway—the Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider and the Boeing F-47—the RAT55's specialized capabilities are likely in high demand. The jet, short for Radar Airborne Testbed, gets its name from its tail number, '55.' It rarely leaves the skies over the sprawling, isolated test ranges of South-Central California and Southern Nevada, where it quietly carries out its secretive missions.

The taxiing of the RAT55 to Hangar 18 adds to the allure of the facility, which is steeped in conspiracy lore. The name "Hangar 18" is associated with alien encounters, secret projects, and black-budget aircraft, sparking curiosity among enthusiasts and researchers alike. Until the mid-2000s, Hangar 18 was the largest hangar on the base, constructed in the 1980s. Its towering height and massive doors could accommodate virtually any aircraft in the US inventory, making it ideal for testing, storage, or even simultaneous classified projects.

Some enthusiasts speculate that the hangar may house a "museum" of retired or experimental aircraft, hidden from public view. The combination of the legendary Hangar 18 name and its location at Area 51 has cemented its almost mythical status, fueling decades of rumors about everything from alien technology to top-secret aerospace programs.

The recent appearance of the RAT55 at Area 51 only adds to the speculation, suggesting that whatever occurs within the hangar may be as secretive and extraordinary as the legends imply. The jet was also last spotted in May, flying alongside a B-2 Spirit over Death Valley.

Photographer Julian Elnasser described his RAT55 sighting to The Aviationist: "I was staying in Las Vegas and saw it was out flying from Groom towards the R-2508. So I decided to try my luck and hurry on out to Death Valley near Furnace Creek. Approaching the town, I saw the two and immediately pulled over; they were pretty low. After the first pass, I moved closer to the valley itself and observed two more passes before they returned to base."

This continued interest in the RAT55 and its activities highlights the enduring fascination with Area 51 and the mysteries that surround it. As new sightings emerge, the veil of secrecy surrounding these operations remains thick, leaving room for endless speculation and intrigue.