Advanced Tactical Fighter
| Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF) | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| The YF-22 (foreground) and YF-23 (background) | |
| Project for | Air superiority fighter |
| Requirement | Advanced Tactical Fighter Statement of Operational Need (November 1984) |
| Issued by | United States Air Force |
| Value | $US 86.6 billion when winner was selected |
| Date initiated | June 1981 (RFI) |
| Proposals | proposals from Boeing, General Dynamics, Lockheed, Northrop, and McDonnell Douglas |
| Prototypes | Lockheed YF-22, Northrop YF-23 |
| Date concluded | August 1991 |
| Outcome | YF-22 selected for production as Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor |
| Related programs | JAFE, NATF, Have Dash II |
The Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF) was a demonstration and validation program undertaken by the United States Air Force to develop a next-generation air superiority fighter to counter emerging worldwide threats, including Soviet Sukhoi Su-27 and Mikoyan MiG-29 fighters under development in the 1980s. Lockheed and Northrop were selected in 1986 to develop the YF-22 and the YF-23 technology demonstrator aircraft. These aircraft were evaluated in 1991 and the Lockheed YF-22 was selected and later developed into the F-22 Raptor.
In 1981, USAF began forming requirements for a new air superiority fighter intended to replace the capability of the F-15 Eagle. In June 1981 a request for information (RFI) for the Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF) was published by the Air Force. Design concepts were provided by defense contractors. The common areas among the concepts were Stealth, STOL and supercruise. It was envisioned that the ATF would incorporate emerging technologies including advanced alloys and composite material, advanced fly-by-wire flight control systems, higher power propulsion systems, and low-observable, or stealth technology.
In September 1983, study contracts were awarded to seven airframe manufacturers for further definition of their designs. By late 1984, ATF requirements had settled on a fighter with a maximum takeoff weight of 50,000 pounds (23,000 kg), a mission radius of 800 miles (1,300 km), supercruise speed of Mach 1.4-1.5 and the ability to use a 2,000 feet (610 m) runway. A request for proposals (RFP) for the fighter's engine, called the Joint Advanced Fighter Engine (JAFE), was released in May 1983. Pratt & Whitney and General Electric received contracts for the development and production of prototype engines in September 1983.
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