It doesn't have thrust vectoring.
"It was powered by two turbofan engines with each in a separate engine nacelle with S-ducts, to shield engine axial compressors from radar waves, on either side of the aircraft's spine.[21] Of the two aircraft built, the first YF-23 (PAV-1) was fitted with Pratt & Whitney YF119 engines, while the second (PAV-2) was powered by General Electric YF120 engines. The aircraft featured fixed engine nozzles, instead of thrust vectoring nozzles as on the YF-22.[11] As on the B-2, the exhaust from the YF-23's engines flowed through troughs lined with heat-ablating tiles to dissipate heat and shield the engines from infrared homing (IR) missile detection from below."

Just fixed outputs with heat shields to increase the stealth capability

That's strange, considering both the F119 and YF120 have integral thrust vectoring

Sure, but on this airframe, it doesn't

Though it sounds like Northrop increased the stealth profile by burying the outlet in the vents

That's honestly the first time I've ever heard of that tbh.

@FrostBite'sAce thrust vectoring or the lack of it on this aircraft?

Integral Thrust Vectoring

Most 4th gen or higher engines have integral thrust vectoring built in

Anything in the 160kN+ class tends to be used in supermaneuvering airframes

The only hope for the YF-23 airframe is with Japan. They're looking at it to base their next aircraft of of.

I mean given how earth-shatteringly fuck-ass mad the DoD is with Lockheed atm... Northrop might be able to just slap a new YF-23 in front of them next fighter upgrade.

Oh, and to note on what you said about the YF-23 bomber thing - according to Wikipedia, Northrop tried hopping in on the USAF's need for an interim bomber back in '04 proposing to base the airframe off of the YF-23's. It would have competed with the FB-22 and B-1R but in '06, the USAF decided they wanted a long range bomber with a lot more reach. This actually ended up birthing the program that lead to the B-21.

Aaaahhhh, I knew it was reproposed but I didn't know they wanted to bomberize it

Wow the B-21 looks like a non-clusterfuck program

Major part compaitibilities, open system architecture, under 1b so far, based on the B-2 so the development cost should be low.

Just wait till the contractor gets a hold of it

then creates artificial delays

@FrostBite'sAce The MQ-101 drones in AC7 look suspiciously like the B-21 <:smugflat:500075410487377922> <:wendy:360615134407819276>

thought the pentagon was cracking down on vaporware spending

"The AF wants a Penetrating Counter-Air fighter to escort B-21's in to enemy airspace"

@Magos Squid "The Life Raft" Actually, hold that thought.

So basically a YF-23

Jesus christ can the AF make up their fucking minds

nope

@RoflTank It's not just the AF deciding anymore

gotta buy more f-22's goy

<:happymerchant:263435754779312130>

We're pretty much back into the mindset of post-WW2 where ***everyone*** gets to say what they want

@Magos Squid "The Life Raft" It's actually based off of this.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_X-47B

Ooooooohhhhhh the X-47 gives me the big iron

>Northrop Grumman

Okay, nvm. Maybe it wont get fucked up by the contractor

Northrop produces that good shit

Also they get extra points for realizing that BWB and flying wings are the best airframes.

it's what made the F-35 into a burning trashcan.
Every branch gets to say what they want in the new plane, but only 1 contractor gets the contract instead of several contracts, 1 -2 per branch like it used to be.

You're not wrong

The AF is getting their planes fucked because they have to fill 4 branches worth of mission profiles with one airframe

But then the AF wants to delet the airframes that are dedicated to other branches

Because the AF is stupid

And they have too much responsibility in a single branch

^^