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The YF-22 (foreground) and YF-23 (background) air superiority fighter Project for Advanced Tactical Fighter Requirement Statement of Operational Need (November 1984) United States Air Force Issued by $US 86.6 billion when winner was Value selected[1] Date initiated June 1981 (RFI) proposals from Boeing, General Dynamics, Lockheed, Northrop, and Proposals McDonnell Douglas.[2] Lockheed YF-22, Northrop YF-23 Prototypes Date concluded August 1991 F-22 selected for production Outcome Related programs JAFE, NATF, Have Dash II
The Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF) was a demonstration and validation program undertaken by the United States Air Force to develop a next-generation air superiority fighter to counter emerging worldwide threats, including Soviet Sukhoi Su-27 and Mikoyan MiG-29 fighters under development in the 1980s.[3] Lockheed and Northrop were selected in 1986 to develop the YF-22 and the YF-23 demonstrator aircraft. These aircraft were evaluated in 1991 and the Lockheed YF-22 was selected and later developed into the F-22 Raptor.
Contents
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1 History o 1.1 Background o 1.2 Request for proposals o 1.3 Selection 2 See also 3 References 4 External links
[edit] History
[edit] Background
In 1981, USAF began forming requirements for a new air superiority fighter intended to replace the capability of the F-15 Eagle. In June 1981 a request for information (RFI) for the Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF) was published by the Air Force. Design concepts were provided by defense contractors. The common areas among the concepts were Stealth, STOL and supercruise.[4] It was envisioned that the ATF would incorporate emerging technologies including advanced alloys and composite material, advanced fly-by-wire flight control systems, higher power propulsion systems, and low-observable, or stealth technology.[5]
In September 1983, study contracts were awarded to seven airframe manufacturers for further definition of their designs. By late 1984, ATF requirements had settled on a fighter with a maximum takeoff weight of 50,000 pounds (23,000 kg), a mission radius of 800 miles (1,300 km), supercruise speed of Mach 1.4-1.5 and the ability to use a 2,000 feet (610 m) runway.[6] A request for proposals (RFP) for the fighter's engine, called the Joint Advanced Fighter Engine (JAFE), was released in May 1983. Pratt & Whitney and General Electric received contracts for the development and production of prototype engines in September 1983.[7]
[edit] Selection
Following a review of the flight test results and proposals, the Air Force announced the Lockheed YF-22 with Pratt & Whitney engines as the competition winner on 23 April 1991.[17] The YF-23 design was more stealthy and faster, but the YF-22 was more agile.[18] The US Navy had begun considering a version of the ATF called Navy Advanced Tactical Fighter (NATF) in 1986.[19] It has been speculated in the aviation press that the YF-22 was also seen as more adaptable to the NATF.[20] The Navy abandoned NATF by 1992.[21] The Lockheed team was awarded the contract to develop and build the Advanced Tactical Fighter in August 1991. The YF-22 was modified into the production F-22 Raptor version.[22] The Northrop YF-23 design was later considered by the company for modification as a bomber,[17] but the proposals have not come to fruition.[23]
[edit] References
Citations 1. ^ Pike, John. "History of the F-22 program". Globalsecurity.org, 21 January 2008. 2. ^ a b Miller 2005, pp. 14, 19. 3. ^ Sweetman 1991, p. 10-11, 21. 4. ^ Sweetman 1991, pp. 1213. 5. ^ a b c YF-22 fact sheet. National Museum. 6. ^ Miller 2005, p. 13. 7. ^ Sweetman 1991, p. 13. 8. ^ Sweetman 1991, p. 14. 9. ^ Miller 2005, p. 14. 10. ^ Miller 2005, pp. 19-20. 11. ^ Sweetman 1991, p. 23. 12. ^ Miller 2005, p. 23. 13. ^ YF-23 fact sheet. National Museum. 14. ^ Goodall 1992, p. 99. 15. ^ a b c Miller 2005, pp. 38-39. 16. ^ Goodall 1992, pp. 102103. 17. ^ a b Miller 2005, p. 38. 18. ^ Goodall 1992, p. 110. 19. ^ Pace 1999, pp. 19-22. 20. ^ The Lockheed Martin F/A-22 Raptor. Vectorsite.net, 1 February 2007. 21. ^ Miller 2005, p. 76. 22. ^ Miller 2005, pp. 38, 42-46. 23. ^ Hebert, Adam J. "The 2018 Bomber and Its Friends". Air Force magazine, October 2006. Bibliography
Goodall, James C. "The Lockheed YF-22 and Northrop YF-23 Advanced Tactical Fighters". America's Stealth Fighters and Bombers, B-2, F-117, YF-22, and YF-23. St. Paul, Minnesota: MBI Publishing Company, 1992. ISBN 0-87938-609-6. Jenkins, Dennis R. and Tony R. Landis. Experimental & Prototype U.S. Air Force Jet Fighters. North Branch, Minnesota, USA: Specialty Press, 2008. ISBN 978-1-58007111-6. Miller, Jay. Lockheed Martin F/A-22 Raptor, Stealth Fighter. Hinckley, UK: Midland Publishing, 2005. ISBN 1-85780-158-X. Pace, Steve. F-22 Raptor. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1999. ISBN 0-07-134271-0. Sweetman, Bill. YF-22 and YF-23 Advanced Tactical Fighters. St. Paul, Minnesota: Motorbooks International Publishing, 1991. ISBN 0-87938-505-7.
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