Area 51 is a highly secretive United States Air Force (USAF) facility located in southern Nevada, officially known as the Nellis Bombing Range Test Site airport (XTA/KXTA). Here's a summary of what the sources reveal about Area 51:Geography: Area 51 is situated in the Groom Lake Valley, a portion of the Tonopah Basin. The namesake Groom Lake is a salt flat used for runways. The facility shares a border with the Yucca Flat region of the Nevada Test Site, where many nuclear tests were conducted.History: The origin of the name "Area 51" is uncertain, but it may come from an Atomic Energy Commission numbering grid. The CIA refers to the facility as Homey Airport (XTA/KXTA) and Groom Lake. The airfield began service in 1942 as Indian Springs Air Force Auxiliary Field.U-2 Program: In April 1955, the CIA established the Groom Lake test facility for Project AQUATONE, which developed the Lockheed U-2 strategic reconnaissance aircraft. The U-2 was designed to fly at 70,000 feet with a range of 3,000 miles. The area was named "Paradise Ranch" to encourage workers to move to the remote location. The first U-2 delivery arrived on 24 July 1955.OXCART Program: Project OXCART was established in August 1959 for antiradar studies and engineering designs, including work on the Lockheed A-12. Construction for the A-12 test facility began in September 1960 and included a new 8,500 ft runway. By August 1961, essential facilities were complete, including hangars, workshops, storage, administration buildings, and housing.D-21 Tagboard: In October 1962, the Air Force funded a study of a high-speed, high-altitude drone aircraft, leading to the D-21 Tagboard project. Several tests were made, none of which met with success.Foreign Technology Evaluation: Area 51 hosted programs like HAVE DOUGHNUT, HAVE DRILL, and HAVE FERRY to test and evaluate captured Soviet fighter aircraft. These programs involved pitting U.S. pilots and aircraft against Soviet-built MiGs to evaluate their capabilities. The data was used to improve air combat training, including at the Top Gun school.Have Blue/F-117 Program: The Lockheed Have Blue prototype stealth fighter first flew at Groom in December 1977. In 1978, a full-scale development contract for the F-117 was awarded to Lockheed Corporation. The 4450th Tactical Group was activated to guide the F-117A to initial operating capability.Legal Status: The US government provides minimal information about Area 51, and the area is off-limits to civilian and normal military air traffic. A Presidential Determination exempts the Air Force's Operating Location Near Groom Lake, Nevada, from environmental disclosure laws.Civil Aviation Identification: In December 2007, the base appeared in aircraft navigation systems with the ICAO airport identifier code of KXTA and listed as "Homey Airport".Security: Security measures include surveillance cameras, motion detectors, and warning signs stating that deadly force is authorised.UFO and Conspiracy Theories: Area 51 is associated with many UFO and conspiracy theories, including claims of underground facilities and alien technology. Some believe that experimental projects at Area 51 inadvertently prompted many UFO sightings.Modern Era: Today, Area 51 is part of the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS). Since 2018, the base has been visible on Google Maps. It is considered a technological laboratory where enemy technology is exploited and analysed.

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