Did the Pentagon Pick the Wrong Stealth Fighter? A Look Back at the YF-23

Did the Pentagon Pick the Wrong Stealth Fighter? A Look Back at the YF-23

PUBLISHED on August 15, 2025, 6:38 AM EDT – Key Points and Summary: The Northrop YF-23 was a highly advanced prototype that competed against the YF-22 in the 1990s to become America’s first fifth-generation stealth fighter. The YF-23 was arguably stealthier and possessed a significantly longer range than its Lockheed competitor. However, the YF-22 was perceived as more maneuverable due to its thrust-vectoring engines and was demonstrated more dy…