Northrop YF-23 Black Widow II | SortsCars

The Northrop YF-23 is a single-seat, twin-engine stealth fighter built for the U.S. Air Force under the Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF) program. Designed to rival the YF-22 it emphasized extreme low observability, high-speed supercruise and a radically futuristic aerodynamic shape. Two prototypes were flown. PAV-1 with Pratt & Whitney engines and PAV-2 with General Electric. Though it lost the ATF competition the YF-23 remains one of the most advanced experimental fighters ever created.

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The YF-23A competed in the late 1980s/early 1990s against the YF-22A in the Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF) program.
During the late 1970s, a new generation of Soviet fighters and Surface-to-Air Missiles (SAMs) prompted the US Air Force to find a replacement for the F-15 Eagle air superiority fighter. In 1986, the USAF awarded demonstration contracts to two competing industry teams—Lockheed-Boeing-General Dynamics (YF-22A) versus Northrop-McDonnell Douglas (YF-23A).

The Northrop YF-23A, unofficially named the Black Widow II, emphasized stealth characteristics. To lessen weight and increase stealth, Northrop decided against using thrust vectoring for aerodynamic control as was used on the Lockheed YF-22A. Northrop built two YF-23A prototypes.

In 1991, after extensive flight testing, the USAF announced that the Lockheed YF-22A won the airframe competition. Northrop ended its ATF program, and the YF-23A on display came to the Museum in 2000.

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- Recently got to see one of these in a museum and they are striking to say the least. A super intriguing design.
- I am lucky enough to have been able to seen one of these on a regular basis for a time.
The YF-23 is real what if of aviation history, and a beaut as well.

- Northrop proposed this to Japan a few yeard ago or last decade but they declined in favor of a 6th gen fighter. I heard its design might be based on it though.

- When are you making a video about the english electric lightning. That was a legend that existed. This is make believe !
- Should have won the competition against the F22. But still live through the SU-57.

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