Northrup developed the F/17 in the 1970's. It was the prototype for the F/18.
Truth be known, the YF-17 lost a competitive flyoff to the F-16 as the lightweight fighter compliment to the F-15. The Air Force rated it second best 30 years ago
17 posted on 12/21/2001 10:31:21 AM PST by pfflier
The YF-17 was never designed for the same role as an F-14. The F-14 was built to make things go boom. The YF-17 was built as a lighweight figther, which is why the USAF went with the more-versatile F-16.