The tale of the Northrop YF-23, or the “Black Widow II,” is aviation’s most ignominious “what-if.” Sexier, faster, and horribly high-tech for the times, the YF-23 amazed pilots, engineers, and thinkers. But for all its potential, it lost to Lockheed’s YF-22 in the U.S. Air Force’s Advanced Tactical Fighter competition of the 1990s, paving the way for the legendary F-22 Raptor.
To know why the F-22 was selected, one has to see past sheer performance. It actually all boiled down to a combination of long-term vision, politics, pilot comfort, and overall versatility.
The YF-23 outdid in stealth and top speed, well ahead of the YF-22 in certain respects. But the Air Force required more than a cutting-edge airplane. They required an airplane that could be upgraded over decades, with new technology, and to meet changing mission requirements.
In one way or another, the F-22 provided a fair solution. It was nowhere as stunning as the YF-23 but was just as designed with stealth, advanced avionics, integrated sensor suites, and a modular design that would be easier to upgrade in the future. The YF-23, good-looking as it was, was less adaptable and harder to improve as technology and battlefield requirements evolved.
Politics and economics entered into it as well. Defense contracts of this magnitude are hardly ever granted purely on engineering merit. Lockheed’s alliances with Boeing and General Dynamics added political and economic stability, plus considerable job dividends on a large scale, an opportunity that Northrop was unable to match.
Northrop was also still tainted by the cost overruns of its B-2 Spirit program. Lockheed’s long association with the Air Force instilled a degree of trust that extended beyond the aircraft itself to the people constructing it.
Both pilot confidence and reliability were a must. An F-23 third-generation fighter had to perform in the air, and not only on paper. During flight testing, the F-22 demonstrated greater stability and reliability, flying well enough that it could be safely transitioned into operational fleets. The YF-23, though capable, failed to evoke the same level of pilot and decision-maker confidence.
Maneuverability and thrust control were critical factors as well. Consistent with its focus on speed and stealth, the YF-23’s fixed nozzles constrained maneuverability in dogfighting at close range. The F-22’s thrust-vectoring engines provided outstanding maneuverability, quicker turn rates, and improved climb angles—achievements greatly valued by high-performance pilots.
The YF-23’s massive tail fins ensured stability, but they paled in comparison with the F-22’s response in hot air combat. Northrop test pilot Paul Metz, who flew the two aircraft, recalled that while the YF-23 was a stunning aircraft, the presentation and demonstration it received were subpar.
Lockheed’s flight was accurate, memorable, and compelling, leaving decision-makers with an indelible impression. Perception and composure were as vital as frigid statistics in this battle.
Now the YF-23 gathers dust and occupies the minds of air enthusiasts as a reminder of might-haves. Its forward-thinking technologies and design innovations still make the rounds with engineers and pilots. Whether the Air Force was correct or let a revolutionary bird slip away is questionable, emblematic of the mystery and clandestine nature of the Black Widow itself: a fighter rumored to be unparalleled for form and performance.