Interesting Raptor's concept...

[Seiyuuki]

Found them here: http://army.tom.com/1019/1021/2003825-47905.html

http://army.tom.com/img/assets/1/z3082535.jpg

I can't translate, but thought the picture was cool.

[Fox2]

Nice. Looks like a mix of the YF-22 and the YF-23, more heavy on the YF-23, though.

...Which was a damned nice plane, by the way...I forget why we didn't choose it over the F-22.

[Retard]

Lockheed proposed a FB-22 to the USAF. What it looked like wasn't released. This looks like one of the guesses of what a FB-22 might look like. Similar one appeared in a Popular Science article on the FB-22.

[oldsoak]

I remember seeing a F16 with a delta wing once - looks like they are doing the same thing here.

[lekomin]

I remember seeing a F16 with a delta wing once - looks like they are doing the same thing here.
It was an F16XL that was a competitor to F15E Strike Eagle in the USAF program for a long range strike platform.
take care
lekomin inc

[budanski]

Lockheed proposed a FB-22 to the USAF. What it looked like wasn't released. This looks like one of the guesses of what a FB-22 might look like. Similar one appeared in a Popular Science article on the FB-22.

http://i.timeinc.net/popsci/images/space/space0702smarterbombers_A2.gif

Smarter Bomber (http://www.popsci.com/popsci/aviation/article/0,12543,262063,00.html)

[AFACadet]

This has a 0% chance of being built. It was simply a design thrown out by some LM engineers.

[Skaman]

Lockheed proposed a FB-22 to the USAF. What it looked like wasn't released. This looks like one of the guesses of what a FB-22 might look like. Similar one appeared in a Popular Science article on the FB-22.

http://i.timeinc.net/popsci/images/space/space0702smarterbombers_A2.gif

Smarter Bomber (http://www.popsci.com/popsci/aviation/article/0,12543,262063,00.html)


looks like a UFO

[obd]

Want to know one big ass obvious reason why the YF-23 wasnt chosen to be the winner of the ATF?? Do you? Huh? Huh? Well I will tell you anyway: The YF 23 had none, nadan zero, zilch ability to carry weapons internally which was one of the core requirements the USAF put forth for the ATF. In other words, it would only be stealthy in clean configuration with, get this, no "bombs on racks". In other words: COMPLETELY UNARMED!! Surpirsing isnt it!! Well ,this has led to specualtion that the ATF contest was rigged from the start and part of the program was not just to develope the next ATF but also do further reseach, and possible even adopt, a new hyper fast reconasaince ability to replace the then retired and since brought back to life SR-71. If you noticem the YF-23 was significantly faster than the Yf-22 and had much greater range, or at least could be adapted forthe long range role easily. This is indeed impressive as the F-22's range or speed is not something to be brushed aside at all. On the contrary it is quite revolutionary. Also max altitude was superior. So, why was the YF 23 faster, have longer range, have no provision for internal storage of weapons, and have a higher service cieling?? I say b/c it never was going to be the next sper fighter. It was always, or from a very early stage, slated to be a recon testbed!!! This info comes from very well known and connected aviation author Bill Sweetman. Any of you who follow American military aviation know his name Im sure. Anyway, he acknowledges this is just speculation but its pretty damn good spec. if you ask me. Oh and the YF-23 carrying no internal bays for weapons is FACt, not speculation!! Nor are its performance characteristics.

[Helly]

Want to know one big ass obvious reason why the YF-23 wasnt chosen to be the winner of the ATF?? Do you? Huh? Huh? Well I will tell you anyway: The YF 23 had none, nadan zero, zilch ability to carry weapons internally which was one of the core requirements the USAF put forth for the ATF. In other words, it would only be stealthy in clean configuration with, get this, no "bombs on racks". In other words: COMPLETELY UNARMED!! Surpirsing isnt it!! Well ,this has led to specualtion that the ATF contest was rigged from the start and part of the program was not just to develope the next ATF but also do further reseach, and possible even adopt, a new hyper fast reconasaince ability to replace the then retired and since brought back to life SR-71. If you noticem the YF-23 was significantly faster than the Yf-22 and had much greater range, or at least could be adapted forthe long range role easily. This is indeed impressive as the F-22's range or speed is not something to be brushed aside at all. On the contrary it is quite revolutionary. Also max altitude was superior. So, why was the YF 23 faster, have longer range, have no provision for internal storage of weapons, and have a higher service cieling?? I say b/c it never was going to be the next sper fighter. It was always, or from a very early stage, slated to be a recon testbed!!! This info comes from very well known and connected aviation author Bill Sweetman. Any of you who follow American military aviation know his name Im sure. Anyway, he acknowledges this is just speculation but its pretty damn good spec. if you ask me. Oh and the YF-23 carrying no internal bays for weapons is FACt, not speculation!! Nor are its performance characteristics.

Tip: get your facts straight before posting. The YF-23's got an internal weapons bay right behind the nose gear bay.

There are a number of reasons why the F-22 won the ATF competition:

- The F-22 is a bit more maneuverable although the YF-23 is a bit faster, has a longer range, and is stealthier (after all, Northrop also designed and built the B-2 Spirit).

- The F-22 employs a lot of proven materials in its construction, aluminum and titanium alloys, and the airframe geometry is also more conservative. The YF-23, on the other hand, uses a lot of composite materials (almost 50% of the aircraft) and employs a radical airframe geometry that's a bit harder to take (kinda like Boeing's JSF entry, the X-32) although it's the radical design that makes it so stealthy.

- The YF-23's exhaust duct design gave Northrop a lot of headaches, and a lot of design changes will have to be made if the plane is to go into full production. Design changes are bad in aircraft demos/competitions. Just ask Boeing about its JSF entry.

- The YF-23's internal weapons bay can fit 4 AIM-120As, with the missiles stacked vertically. Due to the stacked design, the Air Force brass was nervous about potential jams in the launcher system.

- Politics was still involved, of course. At the time of the competition, Northrop (and partner McDonnell-Douglas) still have a number of projects going on including the B-2 and the F/A-18 while Lockheed Martin didn't have anything in its schedule other than the F-16.

[FallenAngel]

This has a 0% chance of being built. It was simply a design thrown out by some LM engineers.

I wouldn't say "0%", but probably highly unlikely. And if it is built, probably not in this configuration. It's hard to say what will be needed 10 or 15 years from now. The origional F-15 went to service and it wasn't until the early 1990s that the F-15E (the bomber version) came out. Maybe in 2017, the FB-22 will be built.

And, yes, I am aware that the F-22 is now being tested as the F/A-22, but remember "A jack of all trades, master of none." ;)

Course, I fancy the new F/A-18E/Fs myself ;)