The Stealth Fighter That Got Away: Why the YF-23 Black Widow II Lost to the F-22 Raptor

The Stealth Fighter That Got Away: Why the YF-23 Black Widow II Lost to the F-22 Raptor

Key Points and Summary – Lockheed’s YF-22 wasn’t the inevitable winner of the Air Force’s Advanced Tactical Fighter contest. Northrop’s YF-23 “Black Widow II” offered cleaner stealth shaping, stronger supersonic cruise, and a powerful engine option—and even drew praise from Chuck Yeager. YF-23 Black Widow II July 2025 National Security Journal -Yet the Pentagon ultimately selected the YF-22, in part because Lockheed needed a marquee fighter prog…