The YF-23 Black Widow II is a case study in what might have been the future of the US Air Force. The sleek, stealthy aircraft was designed for the Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF) program—Northrop and McDonnell Douglas’ alternative to the Lockheed YF-22, offering a vastly different vision of what fifth-generation air dominance could look like.

The ATF program was launched during the late Cold War to field an American counter to advanced Soviet fighters, i.e. the Su-27 and MiG-29. The program requirements emphasized stealth, super cruise, advanced sensors, and air superiority. Two finalists emerged: the YF-22 and the YF-23. Both aircraft flew in 1990, competing head-to-head in flight testing. 

Northrop designed the YF-23 to be sleek and stealthy, with low observability and a reduced infrared signature. The distinctive diamond-shaped wings and V-tail design, engine exhaust........

© The National Interest