▁systems ▁testing ▁and ▁integration . ▁Moreover , ▁another ▁major ▁new ▁element ▁of ▁complexity ▁was ▁soon ▁introduced ▁into ▁the ▁flight ▁test ▁process . ▁ ▁At ▁a ▁remote ▁location ▁in ▁ 1 9 7 8 ▁and ▁ 1 9 7 9 , ▁an ▁A FF TC ▁test ▁pilot ▁and ▁a ▁pair ▁of ▁flight ▁test ▁engine ers ▁were ▁engaged ▁in ▁proof - of - con cept ▁testing ▁with ▁Lock he ed ' s ▁" low - ob servable " ▁technology ▁demonstr ator , ▁dub bed ▁" Have ▁Blue ." ▁The ▁successful ▁conduct ▁of ▁these ▁tests ▁led ▁immediately ▁to ▁the ▁development ▁of ▁a ▁new ▁sub son ic ▁attack ▁aircraft ▁that ▁was ▁designated ▁the ▁F - 1 1 7 A ▁N ighth awk . ▁ ▁The ▁capabilities ▁of ▁existing ▁aircraft ▁such ▁as ▁the ▁F - 1 5 ▁and ▁F - 1 6 ▁have ▁been ▁contin ually ▁ref ined ▁and ▁expanded , ▁even ▁as ▁totally ▁new ▁aircraft ▁and ▁systems ▁incorpor ating ▁radical ▁new ▁techn ologies ▁are ▁developed ▁for ▁future ▁oper ational ▁use . ▁The ▁dual - role ▁F - 1 5 E , ▁for ▁example , ▁was ▁developed ▁in ▁the ▁ 1 9 8 0 s ▁and ▁went ▁on ▁to ▁demonstrate ▁truly ▁remarkable ▁combat ▁effect iveness ▁in ▁the ▁Pers ian ▁G ulf ▁conflict ▁of ▁the ▁early ▁ 9 0 s . ▁The ▁Low ▁Alt itude ▁Navigation ▁and ▁Target ing ▁Inf ra red ▁for ▁Night , ▁or ▁L ANT IR N , ▁system ▁revolution ized ▁air - to - ground ▁combat ▁operations ▁during ▁the ▁same ▁conflict ▁by ▁den ying ▁oppos