The story of the Northrop/McDonnell Douglas YF-23 “Black Widow II” is one of vision and innovation as much as it is one of the capricious turns in defense decision-making. Conceived during the final years of the Cold War, the YF-23 was America’s response to the growing power of Soviet fighters such as the Su-27 and MiG-29. As a response, the U.S. Air Force launched the Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF) program in the early 1980s—a competition that would define the future of air warfare. On one hand was the YF-23, a look-into-the-future wonder vehicle developed by Northrop and McDonnell Douglas. On the other hand, the YF-22 from Lockheed, a more traditional design but with a big punch.
From the initial view, the YF-23 resembled a science fiction movie prop. Its sleek, lengthy fuselage, diamond-wing design, and angled V-tail made it a radar-evading aircraft from the start. Each inch of its structure, from the integrated wing-body to its rounded surfaces, was configured to angle away from the enemy’s radar.
The aircraft’s weapons were housed internally to keep a low profile, and its serpentine engine ducts helped hide its heat signature. Aerospace analyst Ali Osman Gündoğan once described it as “a diamond in the sky,” noting how the aircraft’s shape—lacking right angles—scattered radar waves like light through a prism.
But the Black Widow II wasn’t just a stealthy shadow in the sky—it was also lightning-fast. Both prototypes employed different engines: Pratt & Whitney’s YF119 in one, and General Electric’s YF120 in the other. Both engines provided the plane with the rare capability of supercruise, traveling faster than Mach 1.7 without the need for afterburners. This provided the plane with an edge in speed without illuminating enemy sensors.
It might reach great heights in a hurry—65,000 feet—and boasted a lengthy combat range that provided it with some serious distance in combat. The interior was equally impressive, designed for situational awareness in the cockpit with a wraparound canopy, sophisticated avionics, and digital flight controls that put the pilot in charge of a rapidly changing battlefield.
When it came to firepower, the YF-23 had more. It had AIM-120 AMRAAMs and AIM-9 Sidewinders stored inside its bays, and even a 20mm cannon for close-range dogfighting. That inboard gun is something future enemies like China’s J-20 never had, providing the YF-23 a tactical advantage in close combat, defense expert Dr. Brent M. Eastwood wrote.
Yet, even with all its positives, the YF-23 lost the ATF competition. The rationale for the choice wasn’t entirely technical. Although the YF-23 was stealthier and quicker, the YF-22 (later known as the F-22 Raptor) had greater agility, particularly in close, tight situations. Lockheed’s aircraft employed thrust vectoring, enabling it to pull tighter turns and theatrical maneuvers.
For the Air Force’s best pilots, who prized dogfighting capability, this was a selling point. As remarked by aviation commentators, the YF-23’s supercruise and stealth capabilities were superior, and its maneuverability lagged just slightly at very low speeds. But image was everything, and Lockheed’s hard-driving flight demonstrations made a strong impression.
Politics and history also came into play. Northrop was still reeling from delays and budget woes on the B-2 Spirit bomber. That record spooked some decision-makers. Lockheed, on the other hand, provided a neater production strategy and a track record of accomplishing things. As Gündoğan has pointed out, Lockheed’s bid appeared to be the sounder bet in the long term. In April 1991, the Air Force made its decision. The YF-22 would proceed to full-scale development, while the YF-23 would be dropped.
Despite this, the YF-23 never really went away. Its legacy is still visible today in subsequent stealth aircraft such as the B-2, the F-35, and newer models in the works. Its aerodynamic and radar-eluding innovations assisted in molding the generation after air combat. Nowadays, the two test planes—one famous as “Black Widow II” and the other as “Gray Ghost”—are exhibited in aviation museums. Although they never went to battle, they remain tangible reminders of an innovative jump in aerospace engineering.
Ultimately, the YF-23 is a reminder of what might’ve been. A plane that tested the boundaries of technology, only to be abandoned by a choice made not on capability, but on perception, faith, and timing. It’s a specter from another future, one where stealth and velocity may have come to the fore—and it’s a reminder that in military aviation, the most highly developed design doesn’t always triumph, but it always makes an impression.