The YF-23, a Contender Against the F-22
Superior in Agility and Stealth Capabilities
Its High Price Tag Led to its Downfall
“History only remembers the winners”.No matter how hard the runner-up fights, people will remember the winner. This is because people tend to remember the winner based on the records. However, it does not necessarily mean that the second-place finisher is inferior to the winner. Usually, the winner triumphs because their offering best meets the demand and requirements at the time. If circumstances were different, the runner-up could have had a chance to win.
In the world of fighter jets, if one were to name a second-place finisher that did as well as the winner, it would be Northrop’s YF-23, which competed against the legendary F-22 Raptor. The YF-23, with its unique Northrop design, showed the world what an actual future fighter jet design should look like. However, it ultimately lost to the F-22 and was relegated to a museum. Let’s learn more about the unfortunate fate of the YF-23.
The True Future Fighter Jet Design
Superior to F-22 in Agility and Stealth
The YF-23 was a stealth fighter that competed against the F-22 (then known as the YF-22) in the U.S. Air Force’s competition to select a successor to the F-15 fighter. Two prototype aircraft were built. Unlike the F-22, which did not deviate significantly from the conventional fighter design, the YF-23 had a unique shape, which was a result of applying the know-how accumulated by Northrop while developing the B-2 stealth bomber. Its unofficial name was Black Widow, with the black prototype earning the nickname ‘Gray Ghost’ and the gray prototype known as ‘Spider.’
The YF-23, although more significant than the YF-22, had less drag, allowing it to achieve higher top speeds and better acceleration and maneuverability at high speeds, even with the same engine. Without afterburners, the YF-23 could reach a supercruise speed of Mach 1.6, while the YF-22 could only reach Mach 1.58. Thanks to its larger size, it could carry more fuel, giving it a longer range. Also, its optimized stealth design – its smooth surface, curved treatment, and an improved angle alignment method – significantly reduced its radar cross-section, making its stealth capabilities superior to those of the YF-22. Pilots who flew both aircraft also rated the YF-23 as equal to, or better than, the YF-22.
Troubled Companies Involved
Design Issues Couldn’t Be Ignored
The Most Expensive Scrap Metal in the World
However, the YF-23 had many problems. More precisely, the problems lay with Northrop and McDonnell Douglas, the consortium that developed it. Northrop had lost the trust of the U.S. military due to delays and cost overruns in the B-2 project, and McDonnell Douglas faced similar trust issues.
Additionally, the weapons bay’s narrow design meant that a jammed missile would prevent the launch of the remaining missiles – a significant design flaw. The astronomical price tag associated with Northrop’s products made the YF-23 significantly more expensive than the YF-22. Even though Northrop tried to reduce the cost by reusing parts from other generation fighters, it was still more costly than the YF-22. As a result, the YF-23 lost the competition, leading to the cancellation of its development, and authorities relegated the two prototypes to hangars and museums.
An Aircraft Loved by Enthusiasts
Something Only the U.S. Could Have Considered
Nonetheless, as word spread about the YF-23’s unique design and superior performance compared to the F-22, it gained the attention and affection of enthusiasts. It has made numerous appearances in various media, especially in games featuring fighter jets, maintaining a presence, albeit not as prominent as the F-22. Had the YF-23 beaten the F-22 and been adopted, how might future fighter jets’ designs have changed?
However, the United States is the only country on Earth with the technological and financial capabilities to build experimental aircraft of this caliber and perfectly replicate the prototype’s performance and design in production aircraft.
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