YF-93

The YF‑93 was a prototype all‑weather interceptor developed by North American Aviation in the late 1940s as a possible successor to the early jet fighters that had emerged at the end of World War II. Originating from the NA‑157 design study, the aircraft was a radical departure from the straight‑wing F‑86 Sabre, employing a swept‑wing planform, a larger nose housing the AN/APG‑33 radar, and a pressurised cockpit positioned forward of the wing. Powered by a General Electric J47‑19 turbojet delivering about 5,200 lbf of thrust, the YF‑93 could reach 560 mph at altitude and offered a service ceiling of 48,000 ft. Its armament consisted of four 20 mm M3 cannon and provision for 24 unguided rockets mounted under the wings, giving it a potent forward‑firing capability for both intercept and ground‑attack missions. Only two prototypes were built and flown in 1950‑51; despite promising performance, the program was cancelled in favour of more advanced dedicated interceptors such as the Convair F‑102 and the improved F‑86D. Though short‑lived, the YF‑93 demonstrated the feasibility of integrating radar and heavy armament on a jet platform and influenced later North American designs, notably the F‑100 Super Sabre.