YF-23 Black Widow

The Northrop/McDonnell Douglas YF-23A was a contender in the bid for an advanced tactical fighter to replace the McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle in US Air Force service. The first of two prototypes flew in August 1990, the second aircraft being powered by General Electric YF120-GE-100 turbofan engines. 


The YF-23A was designed to be ultra-stealthy and incorporated many of the stealth features of the Northrop Grumann B-2 bomber, and all its planned weaponry was to be housed in an internal bay to reduce the radar signature. The two YF-23s successfully completed their flight test programme, but the Lockheed YF-22 was selected to meet the USAF requirement.