page_title: Northrop YF-23
section_title: Operational history
hierarchical_section_title: Northrop YF-23 / Operational history
caption_attribution_description: English: The YF-22 and YF-23 in formation This image or file is a work of a U.S. Air Force Airman or employee, taken or made as part of that person's official duties. As a work of the U.S. federal government, the image or file is in the public domain in the United States. Беларуская (тарашкевіца)‎&#160;| Català&#160;| Čeština&#160;| Deutsch&#160;| English&#160;| Español&#160;| Eesti&#160;| فارسی&#160;| Suomi&#160;| Français&#160;| Italiano&#160;| 日本語&#160;| 한국어&#160;| Македонски&#160;| മലയാളം&#160;| Plattdüütsch&#160;| Nederlands&#160;| Polski&#160;| Português&#160;| Русский&#160;| Slovenčina&#160;| Slovenščina&#160;| Српски / srpski&#160;| Türkçe&#160;| Tiếng Việt&#160;| 中文&#160;| 中文（简体）‎&#160;| +/−
context_page_description: The Northrop/McDonnell Douglas YF-23 is an American single-seat, twin-engine stealth fighter aircraft technology demonstrator designed for the United States Air Force. The design was a finalist in the USAF's Advanced Tactical Fighter competition, battling the Lockheed YF-22 for a production contract. Two YF-23 prototypes were built, nicknamed "Black Widow II" and "Gray Ghost".
  In the 1980s, the USAF began looking for a replacement for its fighter aircraft, especially to counter the USSR's advanced Sukhoi Su-27 and Mikoyan MiG-29. Several companies submitted design proposals; the USAF selected proposals from Northrop and Lockheed. Northrop teamed with McDonnell Douglas to develop the YF-23, while Lockheed, Boeing and General Dynamics developed the YF-22.
  The YF-23 was stealthier and faster, but less agile than its competitor. After a four-year development and evaluation process, the YF-22 was announced the winner in 1991 and entered production as the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor. The U.S. Navy considered using the production version of the ATF as the basis for a replacement to the F-14, but these plans were later canceled. The two YF-23 prototypes were museum exhibits as of 2010.
caption: A YF-22 in the foreground with a YF-23 in the background
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