Probably the most intriguing “what-ifs” in the whole realm of aeronautical innovation is the Northrop YF-23, dubbed the “Black Widow II.” Its smooth silhouette, scorching speed, and state-of-the-art stealth features gave it the vibe of a fighter of the future. Despite having the prospect, YF-23 lost the U.S. Air Force’s Advanced Tactical Fighter competition in the 1990s to Lockheed’s YF-22, the latter being the aircraft that would eventually be renamed as F-22 Raptor and put into service.
It wasn’t a decision that was made entirely or primarily based on performance figures. The factors that influenced the decision included a mixture of politics, potential for longevity, pilot’s trust, and aircraft’s agility, which weighed more towards the design of Lockheed.
The YF-23 was once and still is the boldest concept when all things were put down on paper. It was visually disruptive to the world of conventional aircraft. Besides this, it was faster and stealthier. However, the USAF was looking not only for a high performer but also a reliable partner for the next few decades.
F-22 was probably the better balanced option between performance and its less eye-catching radical design with no compromise on stealth, highly-capable avionics, sensor integration, and a modular architecture that allowed gradual technological enhancements. Though the benefits of the Northrop YF-23 are unquestionable, the latter’s arrangement appeared more difficult to adapt for future innovations.
Politics was a big factor, too. The most significant defense programs are rarely decided by the brilliance of the engineering side alone. The partnership with Boeing and General Dynamics gave Lockheed a political influence spread over a large area of the United States, so the work and the money would be distributed over several US states.
On the other hand, Northrop was being examined for the money problems on the B-2 Spirit program, and the history was working against them. The more profound connections of Lockheed and the Air Force helped increase confidence in its proposal.
Just as crucial was the feeling of the pilot. The proof of a good concept was in the test flights, where it had to show its efficiency in reality and not only in theory. Test flights developed better reliability and better breathing for the other forces to visualize a frontline fighter. Test flights gave the YF-22 better reliability and steadiness, making it simpler for the Air Force to perceive it as a frontline fighter. On the other hand, the YF-23 was perfectly capable but lacked the same degree of confidence to the extent that it could be rapidly converted into a combat-ready status.
The aspect of maneuvering was another feature that was used in making the final decision. The fighters’ local fight at that time depended largely on nimble moves, the close moves. Thus, the vectored thrust of F-22 gave it dogfighting capabilities, including rapid climbs, tighter turns, and breathtaking agility at near-stall speeds.
While the speed and stealth of YF-23 were both nozzle-optimized, its lack of agility was one grim trade-off. Its large vertical stabilizers made it very stable, yet it was less than the F-22 in close combat, which the veterans considered as very critical engagements.
At the same time, the Northrop test pilot, Paul Metz, while praising the YF-23 as an exceptional aircraft, nevertheless admitted that his company was having a difficult time promoting it. Conversely, Lockheed did not hesitate to demonstrate its aircraft with accuracy and without reservation, which made a long-lasting impression on the decision-makers. The performance competition was as much about presentation and long-term trust as it was about performance charts.
Currently, the YF-23 only lives on in museums and in the minds of the aviation geeks. Even though it has not been developed, its space-age aesthetic and the discussions it continues to spark make a case for it. The question remains: did the Air Force make the right call by supporting the F-22, or was it simply a matter of passing over a fighter that could have transformed air combat? And the argument continues to be existent, much like the fame of the Black Widow promising aircraft that never got to show its sky advantage.
