Re: Stealth fighters
Stealth fighters were in use for 10 years before anyone knew of their existence. There were however rumors that the military was working on the use of electromagnetic fields and 'invisibility'. Of course what stealth is really is invisibility to electromagetic sensors such as radar. While we are led to believe that an airborne laser is the plan, it may actually be that a submarine-based laser is preferred. Who knows. The SDI laser was intended to shoot down missiles, and has not yet achieved that goal. Nevertheless in the course of attempting something noble may have created a weapon of terror.
The space program has spinoffs you know.