PUBLISHED on August 16, 2025, 8:29 PM EDT – Key Points and Summary: In a hypothetical dogfight, the Northrop YF-23 “Black Widow II” would likely defeat the F-35 Lightning II.
-While the F-35 boasts superior sensor fusion and versatility, the YF-23 was a purpose-built air superiority fighter with significant advantages in speed, range, and altitude.
-The YF-23’s twin-engine design also offered greater survivability.
YF-23 vs. F-35: The Winner Might Surprise You…
Though it lost the Advanced Tactical Fighter competition to the F-22 for political and industrial reasons, the YF-23’s raw performance metrics suggest it would have the upper hand in a direct air-to-air engagement against the F-35.
The Northrop YF-23 is one of the great “what if?” stories in U.S. military aviation history. Had it beaten out the Lockheed YF-22—the eventual F-22 Raptor—in the competition for the U.S. Air Force’s Advanced Tactical Fighter program in the early 1990s, it would have become the first operational fifth-generation stealth fighter.
Indeed, many critics believe the “Black Widow” was the superior fighter, and that Lockheed won the contract mainly due to politics.
Ironically enough, the F-22 itself would end up falling victim to politics, as then-U.S. Secretary of Defense Bob Gates made the incredibly boneheaded decision in 2009 to kill the Raptor after only 187 airframes were produced out of the original 381 planned. Luckily for Lockheed Martin’s legendary Skunk Works division, another of their products, the F-35 Lightning II, would follow the Raptor as the next fifth-generation fighter.
Going back to the “what if,” National Security Journal now examines which airframe would win a hypothetical stealth-fighter battle between the YF-23 and the F-35.
LOCKHEED MARTIN LIGHTNING II ADVANTAGES
“Flexibility is the key to airpower,” quoth the famous dictum of the early 20th century Italian airpower theorist Gen. Giulio Douhet. Though not completely synonymous with flexibility, versatility is another big-time asset in airpower, and the F-35 certainly has that in droves.
The Lightning II is a true multirole fighter, able to excel in air-to-air and air-to-ground combat. Its versatility is further amplified by its availability in three main variants: the Conventional Takeoff and Landing F-35A flown by the U.S. Air Force; the Short Takeoff and Vertical Landing F-35B of the Marine Corps; and the U.S. Navy’s carrier-based F-35C. By contrast, the YF-23 would have presumably been a strictly land-based fighter plane.
Moreover, as noted by GlobalMilitary.net, “One of the aircraft’s most touted features is its sensor fusion capabilities. The F-35 is equipped with an array of advanced sensors including the AN/APG-81 AESA radar, Distributed Aperture System (DAS) [officially designated the AN/AAQ-37], and the Electro-Optical Targeting System (EOTS). These systems collectively provide the pilot with a comprehensive view of the battlespace and enable the aircraft to operate in complex and contested environments.”
The F-35 also benefits from a more powerful engine, generating 43,000 pounds-force, compared with the piddling 35,000 pounds-force of the YF-23.
NORTHROP YF-23 “BLACK WIDOW II” ADVANTAGES
As the fighter pilot’s motto goes, “Speed is life.” The Black Widow II would have been the faster warbird, with a max airspeed of Mach 2.15, which would have left the Lightning II in the dust, with the latter’s top speed of a mere Mach 1.56.
The YF-23 could also fly farther and higher, with an operational range of 921 miles and a service ceiling of 65,000 feet. By contrast, the F-35 runs out of gas after a measly 518 miles and tops off at an altitude of a mere 49,213 feet.
“Two heads are better than one,” as the saying goes, and along those lines, two engines are better than one when it comes to the prospect of surviving an engine flameout.
The YF-23 had two General Electric YF120 turbojets, so if one of those engines failed, the Black Widow II’s pilot still had a chance to safely return to base on the remaining engine. Meanwhile, the Lightning II has only a single Pratt & Whitney F-135-PW-600 turbofan engine.
As another saying goes, “quantity has a quality all of its own.” The YF-23 would have been less expensive to produce, with an estimated cost of $70 million per unit.
By contrast, the F-35 earned a reputation for high expense and cost overruns, with an average cost of $85 million per airframe. The lower cost would have translated into the YF-23’s being produced in bigger numbers.
There is also an intangible factor to consider: Though the YF-23 wasn’t as versatile as the F-35 has turned out to be, it was designed as a true air superiority fighter, one that would absolutely dominate dogfights.
AND THE WINNER IS…?
I have to give the nod to the YF-23. Though the Lightning II is still an excellent warbird, the Black Widow II’s combined advantages of speed, range, altitude, and engine survivability would give it the upper hand in a head-to-head matchup.
About the Author: Christian D. Orr, Defense Expert
Christian D. Orr is a Senior Defense Editor. He is a former Air Force Security Forces officer, Federal law enforcement officer, and private military contractor (with assignments worked in Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Kosovo, Japan, Germany, and the Pentagon). Chris holds a B.A. in International Relations from the University of Southern California (USC) and an M.A. in Intelligence Studies (concentration in Terrorism Studies) from American Military University (AMU).
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Robert
August 17, 2025 at 9:30 am
I do not think the F-35 was designed to be an superiority fighter. The YF-23 and the F-22 was designed to replace the F-15 as the superiority fighter. The F-35 was designed to replace the F-16, F-18 and all attack type fighters like the A-10. I could be wrong though, but I think the F-35 was not designed to replace the F-22.
An interesting article would be the F-15 EX vs the YF-23.
As to the remark, “Indeed, many critics believe the “Black Widow” was the superior fighter, and that Lockheed won the contract mainly due to politics.” … I think we all know the answer to that. 🙂