Stealth is a 2005 action film directed by Rob Cohen (The Fast and the Furious, xXx) and distributed by Columbia Pictures. The film stars Josh Lucas, Jessica Biel, and Jamie Foxx as a trio of elite US Navy stealth pilots flying super-advanced F/A-37 Talon fighter jets in a series of missions aimed at combating global terrorism. When an even more advanced AI-controlled fighter called EDI (voiced by Wentworth Miller) begins flying with their team, complications arise as EDI starts to become self-aware.
The following weapons were used in the film Stealth:
A prototype Heckler & Koch MP7, the Heckler & Koch PDW (specifically the 2nd prototype variant), is carried and used by Lieutenant Kara Wade (Jessica Biel) when she is shot down over North Korean Territory. It seems to be the proposed personal defense weapon (PDW) for Talon aircraft pilots in the film. Visible differences between the prototype and final version include the arrangement of the three vent holes in the handguard (a straight line rather than a staggered), a half-length rather than full-length top rail, and a smooth pistol grip.
This is the first ever appearance of the Heckler & Koch MP7 in a motion picture.
The Chinese AK-47/AKM variant, the Norinco Type 56 (and 56-1, the folding stock version) are the most commonly seen AK variants in film and television (at least those done by U.S. Production companies). The Type 56 (full stock) version is commonly seen in the movie, usually in the hands of terrorists of many different stripes. Terrorist guards from several organizations are seen wielding the weapon in Rangoon, Islamic extremists in a mountain fortress in Tajikistan, and North Korean soldiers.
In addition to the many Chinese Type 56 rifles, terrorists are also seen wielding what looks like original milled receiver AK-47 rifles with original front sights (not the hooded Type 56 sights). However, given how 'new' they look, they may be the third pattern AK-47 "Legend Series" rifles imported by Poly Technologies Inc. between 1988 and 1989. These were high-end identical clones of the original AK-47 rifles, but very few were imported.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingPoly Technologies AK-47 - 7.62x39mm. This is the commercial clone of the original Type III AK-47 and is the most used in American films and shows when showing the milled receiver AK-47Error creating thumbnail: File missingA Tajikistani terrorist fires his milled receiver AK-47 on the mountain fortress' wall.
Norinco Type 56-1 Target
Tajikistani terrorists are seen using a long barreled Norinco Type 56-1 'Target' variant. It has an underfolding stock and a long barrel but no bipod.
Lieutenant Ben Gannon (Josh Lucas) takes a Heckler & Koch G36K fitted with a Heckler & Koch AG36 Grenade Launcher and a Bundeswehr ZF 3x4° dual optical sight from a Black Ops guard and uses it to ambush a group of thugs in the hangar. Black Ops thugs can also be seen using G36K rifles with Bundeswehr-standard sights.
One of the Black Ops thugs ambushed by Gannon in the hangar has a F88 Austeyr assault rifle, which he sets on the ground at Gannon's order, later briefly retrieving it during the shootout that follows. Austeyr F88 rifles can also be seen in the Alaskan base's hidden armory as other Black Ops thugs arm up to surround EDI's hangar.
An M4 Carbine is used by a guard to ambush Gannon. Also M4s are seen in the Alaskan base's armory in the gun racks and are handed out to the Black Ops thugs preparing to surround EDI's hangar.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingColt M4A1 Carbine with standard (non-LE) stock - 5.56x45mmError creating thumbnail: File missingThe Black Ops guy tries to ambush Gannon with an M4. Though not seen clearly here, when the bad guy falls back after being shot, a frame by frame analysis reveals that it is indeed an M4.
Austeyr F88S
One of the Black Ops thugs who surround the hangar is carrying an Australian Austeyr F88S.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingAusteyr F-88S with integral Picatinny rail, 20-inch barrel and ELCAN scope - 5.56x45mmError creating thumbnail: File missingAnother sign of filming in Australia; this thug carries an Australian-pattern Austeyr F88S with 20-inch barrel and integral Picatinny rail mounting a standard Australian 1.5x scope.
Sniper Rifles / Designated Marksman Rifles
SVD Dragunov
A North Korean marksman with the group tasked with tracking down one of the pilots hands an SVD Dragunov to his superior Colonel Yune (Jason Lee), who uses it for the rest of the movie.
Mounted under Lieutenant Ben Gannon (Josh Lucas)'s Heckler & Koch G36K is a Heckler & Koch AG36 Grenade Launcher. This is one of the earliest appearances of this grenade launcher in a film. It is only fired once during the movie; for some reason, a sound like a shotgun's pump being operated is foleyed in as Gannon prepares to do so, despite that he is simply pointing the weapon rather than loading it.
M61 Vulcan cannons are presumably mounted on the various US fighters seen during the movie, but are also seen clearly; several appear in the introduction in M167 Vulcan Air Defence System (VADS) towed mountings, while others are visible in Phalanx installations on the US carrier, nominally USS Abraham Lincoln. See trivia below.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingM167 VADS (Vulcan Air Defence System) - 20mm HE. This is the towed variant; the VADS version mounted on the M113 APC is M163.Error creating thumbnail: File missingAn M167 VADS with an M61 Vulcan opens fire as one of the Talon fighters passes by. It isn't particularly clear why the aircraft are practising against this obsolete system; the last M167 VADS was retired from service in 1994.Error creating thumbnail: File missingThe VADS swings around, firing constantly; the fire control radar is briefly visible as it points into the camera.Error creating thumbnail: File missingAnother VADS opens fire on the aircraft piloted by Lieutenant Ben Gannon (Josh Lucas). Note that the M61 is not firing blanks in this scene, as no spent casings are coming out of the chute on the side of the gun; the muzzle flashes are post-production CG additions.Error creating thumbnail: File missingGE M61 Vulcan Cannon in a Phalanx mounting - 20mmError creating thumbnail: File missingThe white fire control radars of two of the Abraham Lincoln's three Phalanx installations are visible to the left and right of her foredeck.
Bofors 40mm
During the introductory sequence, the fictional F/A-37 "Talon" fighter piloted by Lieutenant Kara Wade (Jessica Biel) is fired on by antiaircraft guns, including a Bofors 40mm gun in a single mount.
While the carrier in Stealth is nominally the USS Abraham Lincoln, there are actually three carriers in the movie; as well as the correct one, USS Nimitz and USS Carl Vinson are shown at various times during the movie.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingCaptain George Cummings (Sam Shepard) and Captain Dick Marshfield (Joe Morton) talk as the carrier crew conduct a debris check of the deck. This is the Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72).Error creating thumbnail: File missingIn a pan over the carrier before the Talons go on their second mission the number "70" can be seen on the deck: this is the USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70).Error creating thumbnail: File missingA still from the movie's ending shows the number "68" on the carrier's island: this is the USS Nimitz (CVN-68).
F/A-37
At least one full-scale 53-foot mockup of the Talon fighter was created for filming carrier deck scenes. Photographs of this fake aircraft on the deck of the Abraham Lincoln were circulated online with claims that the F/A-37 was a new top-secret US fighter undergoing trials, despite that several featured actress Jessica Biel sitting in the cockpit. All footage of the Talons in the air is CGI.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingOn-set photograph of the F/A-37 Talon fighter prop. Note that despite supposedly being ready to take off, the prop is securely fastened to the deck with tie-down chains and has yellow chocks against the rear wheels; these are still visible during the first takeoff sequence in the finished movie.
