While I love the F-23 it isn’t a JSF alternative. First of all a STOVL variant isn’t possible and a carrier-capable variant is going to be very different from the “standard” F-23. Then consider that suppliers for all of the sub-systems would have to be found and a production line established which is going to cost a whole lot of money. Then a ton of work would still need to be done including the software portion which has caused so much trouble for the F-35. For the air-superiority mission restarting production of an improved F-22 would be the better choice.
A enlarged “FB-23” was proposed by Northrop and considered under one of the programs which preceded the Next Generation Bomber and I still think that concept has potential but if the Air Force was/is interested there is still no way they could get the funding without jeopardizing one of their other critical programs.
True she doesn’t have STOVL but why design a bird for 3 different missions? All those tax dollars going to waste
I personally think there is a future for Northrop’s bird.
She wouldn’t look out of place a century from now.
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