YF-17 Cobra

The YF‑17 Cobra was a single‑engine, twin‑tailed, lightweight fighter prototype developed by Northrop in the early 1970s to compete for the United States Air Force's Lightweight Fighter (LWF) contract. First flown on 21 September 1974, the aircraft demonstrated exceptional maneuverability, a high thrust‑to‑weight ratio and advanced relaxed‑stability flight control technology that would later become a hallmark of modern fighters. Powered by two General Electric YJ101 turbo‑jets, the YF‑17 featured a blended wing‑body layout, a frameless bubble canopy for superior visibility, and an internal weapons bay that could carry a mix of air‑to‑air missiles and a 20 mm cannon. Although it lost the LWF competition to the General Dynamics YF‑16, the design’s aerodynamics and digital fly‑by‑wire system impressed the Navy, which selected a modified version as the basis for the F/A‑18 Hornet. The YF‑17 thus served as a critical technology demonstrator, influencing the development of carrier‑capable multirole aircraft and shaping the United States’ tactical air strategy throughout the late twentieth century. Its aerodynamic concepts were later incorporated into the Eurofighter Typhoon and other fourth‑generation designs, confirming the YF‑17’s lasting impact on global fighter development.

Northrop

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Design & Classification