Forum: General F-22A Raptor forum

Can Boeing ever sell the YF-23 to some country in Europe?

F-16.net Sponsor

No. It's a Northrop aircraft. And no Northrop can't either.

Forget it, nobody is not getting it, period. Guarenteed.

One prototype was placed in a museum, and the other one I believe is still rotting on a piece of unused tarmac at Edwards.

The contract was awarded to Lockheed/General Dynamics (now Lockheed Martin) for what became the Raptor. Northrop/McDonnell Douglas's project (the 23) was cancelled, the tooling for the aircraft was destroyed, the support withdrawn, and both companies went into dire financial straits as a result.

Northrop was forced to merge with Grumman. After the F-20 fiasco, and the failed YF-23, they are probably out of the newly-produced fighter business for good.

McDonnell Douglas, after nearing bankruptcy, was bought out by Boeing.

What Allen said pretty much sums it up. The Black Widow II is now a pot hole on aviation memory lane.

Beers and MiGs were made to be pounded!

TC - visit http://dreamlandresort.com/black_projects/y23a.htm

The Black Widow is not dead dude!!! I know all about McDonnell Douglas, used to work there....

IMO it´s a pitty that they went with the F-22 instead of the F-23.

The reasons I heard why the F-22 was choosen over the F-23 where that the F-23 was aperently more expensive then the F-22 & that it was overqualified (meaning even better then the F-22) for the USAF requirements.

But what would be realy awsome (I know, it is to 99.99999999% not going to happen) would be to see the F-23 program brought back like for a Naval Fighter or something else.

Why, where are you going shipboard at mach 6 without low-velocity lift devices. It can't can't trap like a Hornet, not designed for that. Look at the website I posted, there is a new design and mission coming up in the next few years.

In retrospect, I now understand they were both great fighters, one won overall and the other was considerd for something else at a later time. Trust me, it has not been forgotten.

And as far as utilization in Europe, ludicrous. Europe to have this design? With the mentality of any mission for them, it's absurd.

Lets say that the page you posted allenperos is at least IMO not trust worthy.
To many speculations & whishes & to less facts

Could be, Jon McDonnell might have something up his sleeve though.

Newbie Joined: Aug 14, 2005 - 04:35 AM Posts: 18

24 July, 2004
Los Angeles Times
GUY NORRIS

Northrop Grumman's "forgotten" advanced tactical fighter leaves museum and could be heading for bomber contest

Northrop Grumman's long-abandoned YF-23A advanced tactical fighter (ATF) is emerging as the possible basis for a surprise contender for the US Air Force's interim bomber requirement.

The company recently retrieved the second of the two YF-23A "Black Widow II" prototypes (PAV-2) from the Western Museum of Flight in Hathorne, California, ostensibly for repainting for display at a forthcoming Northrop Grumman-backed air fair in August. However, the restoration is also thought to include several changes, including new cockpit displays and other possible cosmetic modifications.

Northrop Grumman confirms restoration of the General Electric YF120-powered PAV-2 is taking place, but declines to comment on whether the revived YF-23A is linked to any USAF proposal. But sources close to the studies, which were kicked off by the USAF's recently issued request for information, say Northrop Grumman now includes a YF-23-based "regional" bomber concept among its raft of proposals and that the USAF "is interested".

Until now, the company's offerings are known to include an upgraded B-2, X-47B unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) -based studies and possible designs based on its quiet supersonic technology programme. The distinctive, rhomboid-winged YF-23A lost out to Lockheed Martin's YF-22 in the ATF competition in 1991, but proved a valuable technology testbed for Northrop Grumman, which gave it all-aspect stealth. The company says it "drew upon a wide range of experience for its response to the interim bomber RFI, and the YF-23 is one".

Other contenders include a Boeing's B-1R (regional) re-engined bomber studies and a larger D-model version of its X-45 UCAV, while Lockheed Martin is considering various derivatives of the F/A-22. These include single- and two-seat, re-winged and tailless versions dubbed the FB-22, the larger of which would be able to cruise at Mach 1.8 and have 75% of the range of the B-2 carrying up to 30 115kg (250lb) small-diameter bombs. Lockheed Martin is also understood to be offering a variety of other manned designs, including a flying-wing concept.

The interim bomber is intended to bridge the gap between the current bomber fleet and a next-generation aircraft planned for 2037. The present timetable calls for a development effort to start in 2006, with an initial operating capability by 2015.

What did I tell you Forestin?

Forum: General F-22A Raptor forum

YF-23: Could it ever be sold to other countries?