F-23A enters production

[B777LR]

I´ve read from many sources than the F23 performed better than the Raptor, is that true? Who knows more?

better than F22 yes, but too expensive.

[Shasper]

On top of that Northrup already had the B-2, so the Pentagon gave the contract to the other guy.


Shas B)

[anthonyp]

As Evan says in every thread about the ATF competition (as he said in this one) the YF-23 wasn't too expensive.  The YF-23 lost mainly because of the flying monkeys that made up Northrup management.  In the last decade, the F-22's price ballooned from what won it the competition, so it's debatable how much the F-23 would have actually cost compared to the F-22.

On a side note, I remember reading in AvWeek back during the competition that the losing engine design was actually the faster of the two engines in supercruise, and the YF-23 plus the F120 engine was the fastest combination, while the F119 and YF-22 was the slowest (the combination that won...  go figure).

[Spey_Phantom]

before i hit the sack, i made 2 more for you to enjoy

-The US coast guard version of the F-23D: the F-23CG
note the SLAR and flir mounted underneath

this version was developed to counter drugbaron jets, pirates and various other terrorist threats    

[Spey_Phantom]

and last one for today, the Finish one.
more to follow  B)  

[elmayerle]

On top of that Northrup already had the B-2, so the Pentagon gave the contract to the other guy.

That Northrop had some significant management problems on the B-2 didn't help their case for the production F-23 proposal.  Having seen some of the problems close up (and unfortunately having had to work for a couple of them   ), I can't totally blame the USAF.  I've got some strong feelings on this which I shan't inflict on the rest of the board.

[elmayerle]

As Evan says in every thread about the ATF competition (as he said in this one) the YF-23 wasn't too expensive.  The YF-23 lost mainly because of the flying monkeys that made up Northrup management.  In the last decade, the F-22's price ballooned from what won it the competition, so it's debatable how much the F-23 would have actually cost compared to the F-22.

On a side note, I remember reading in AvWeek back during the competition that the losing engine design was actually the faster of the two engines in supercruise, and the YF-23 plus the F120 engine was the fastest combination, while the F119 and YF-22 was the slowest (the combination that won...  go figure).

On the first, I plead "Guilty".  I was there and saw what happened and, while their management inadequacies eventually led to my getting laid off, I have to defend the technical competence of their folk.

On the second, you remember correctly.  I've seen the flight test data during the competition.

[elmayerle]

before i hit the sack, i made 2 more for you to enjoy

-The US coast guard version of the F-23D: the F-23CG
note the SLAR and flir mounted underneath

this version was developed to counter drugbaron jets, pirates and various other terrorist threats  

The SLAR looks close in profile to the recce shape I intend to use, but the FLIR would more likely be in a carefully blended housing as it is on the F-35 (and wsa discussed and pictured in a F-117 upgrade thread).

[anthonyp]

-The US coast guard version of the F-23D: the F-23CG
note the SLAR and flir mounted underneath

this version was developed to counter drugbaron jets, pirates and various other terrorist threats  

     

That USCG HF-23D (I'm pilfering your idea and renaming it my own   ) is gonna look great in 1/72.  It'll look great next to my F-23 space plane.

   

[B777LR]

On top of that Northrup already had the B-2, so the Pentagon gave the contract to the other guy.


Shas B)

other three guys, the F22 is made by lockheed, boeing and grumman or general dynamics.
on the F22 vs. F23, the F23 seems a bit larger, which should give it an disadvantage in a dogfight, or am i wrong. Maybe the F22 was chosen for better weapons load? it is capable of underwing stores i think.

[B777LR]

before i hit the sack, i made 2 more for you to enjoy

-The US coast guard version of the F-23D: the F-23CG
note the SLAR and flir mounted underneath

this version was developed to counter drugbaron jets, pirates and various other terrorist threats  

cuban refugees, be aware, you cannot spot him on the radar!

[elmayerle]

On top of that Northrup already had the B-2, so the Pentagon gave the contract to the other guy.


Shas B)

other three guys, the F22 is made by lockheed, boeing and grumman or general dynamics.
on the F22 vs. F23, the F23 seems a bit larger, which should give it an disadvantage in a dogfight, or am i wrong. Maybe the F22 was chosen for better weapons load? it is capable of underwing stores i think.

Well, it was made by Lockheed, Boeing, and General Dynamics; now it's just made by two different Lockheed-Martin plants and Boeing.  The F-23 was equally capable of carrying underwing stores and has a more capacious and flexible weapons bay design.

[anthonyp]

The F-23's size also belied its inherint maneuverability, due to the fact it was designed to be unstable.  Couple that with the flight control computer it had and the huge control surfaces, and it was quite nimble even without thrust vectoring.

All in all, it was the better plane, just the company was run by the afore-mentioned flying monkeys.  And the USAF wanted terra firma only monkeys to run their programs.

[dragon]

I built one some time ago that you ought to include in your study.  It is a BLUE ANGELS F-23 (loosely based on the A-4 style of things: steel on the leading edge).  I will see if I can post that pic.

[B777LR]

Then it was posibly chosen coz lockheed began paying some USAF generals.