So what's the reason YF-23 lost to F-22?

[GoSharks]

According to the Air Force, factors in the selection for production of the F-22 were a better designed for maintainability, greater potential for future development, and slightly lower cost. A popular view is that the decision reflected a preference for maneuverability over stealth, and it is universally held that the YF-23 was by far the better looking aircraft.

http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ac/f-23.htm

 

[maddogchen]

Originally posted by: luvya


So it looks like the YF-23 hides all its weapons internally.

all stealth jets have their weapons internally. Otherwise the weapons would give off radar signatures.

 

[kaizersose]

wow, many misguided posts here...

the yf-23 and the yf-22 were experimental air superiority fighters. neither of them take or land vertically. the yf-22 was picked (as gosharks posted) for maneuverability, maintainability and cost. while it is not as stealthy as the yf-23, it is still a generation beyond anything in the air today.

the x-35 and x-32 are experimental multirole fighters. one version (meant for the marines) needed to have vertical takeoff and landing, one (for the navy) needed short takeoff and vertical landing and one version (for the airforce) has neither but a longer range due to the added fuel it carries. the x-32 had to undergo a major redesign very late in the game and was not quite ready to go when the competition was held.

 

[ed21x]

Originally posted by: maddogchen

Originally posted by: ed21x

Originally posted by: maddogchen
oh yeah I forgot to mention....YF-23 did not have the supercruise and the vector thrusting thingofamajig...

of course it did- as that was the requirement for competing with the f-22. In terms of specs, but planes were nearly identical-- however, the choice of the f-22 over the yf-23 reflected the emphasis of maintaining maneuverability over stealth. The yf-23 was an awesome plane, with 3d thrust vectoring, lower radar signarure, and supercruise- but the f-22 was far more agile.

the YF-23 had 3D thrust vectoring? how can it have 3d vecor thrusting with its top mounted exhaust? it looks like it can only go 2d
YF-23 jpg with topmounted exhaust showing

actually now that you've mentionee t, it looks like the yf23 doesn't have thrust vectoring at all (my bad...) i always thought that was one of the main objectives for this generation to counter the su30 =)