Stealth Jet Unveiling Canceled

WASHINGTON — The Defense Department decided at the last moment today to cancel an unveiling of its stealth jet fighter, forcing a senator to cancel a news conference and the Pentagon’s spokesman to reassert an official shroud of secrecy over the radar-evading plane.

By the time the behind-the-scenes maneuverings ended, there was little doubt that an airplane that officially doesn’t exist, does. Doug Fuller, a spokesman for Sen. Chic Hecht (R-Nev.), said the senator had planned to discuss the stealth program with reporters today after the Pentagon released details about the plane--but the news conference was canceled after Hecht received a telephone call from the Pentagon.