The Northrop YF-17 (nicknamed "Cobra") is a prototype lightweight fighter aircraft designed by Northrop aviation for the United States Air Force 's Lightweight Fighter (LWF) technology evaluation program.

Jun 16, 2025 · The F-17 designation almost came to service in the 1970s. Northrop Aircraft (now Northrop Grumman) developed the YF-17 Cobra and flew prototypes in 1976 with some help from …

Nov 27, 2025 · Key Points and Summary – Northrop’s YF-17 “Cobra” lost the U.S. Air Force’s 1970s Lightweight Fighter competition to the YF-16, but it went on to shape American and allied air power …

Nov 27, 2023 · Though there wasn’t ever an F-17, there was the YF-17 Cobra, a prototype lightweight fighter aircraft designed by Northrop aviation for the United States Air Force’s Lightweight Fighter …

Mar 20, 2024 · The Northrop Grumman YF-17 Cobra was a lightweight fighter aircraft prototype designed for the United States Air Force (USAF) in the 1970s. At the time, it was believed that many …

The Northrop YF-17, sometimes nicknamed Cobra, was a prototype jet fighter produced by Northrop in response to the US Air Force's Lightweight Fighter program.

The Northrop YF-17, commonly known as the Cobra, was a prototype fighter aircraft developed in the 1970s. It was designed as a lightweight, single-seat fighter with excellent agility and high performance.

6 days ago · The F-17 fighter jet is a typical example. It was originally developed by Northrop Corporation to participate in the U.S. Air Force's new generation light fighter program in the 1970s.

The two contractors were given creative freedom to build their own vision of a lightweight air superiority fighter, with only a limited number of specified performance goals.

Dec 23, 2022 · Although the F-17 was never produced, Northrop Aviation did develop the YF-17 Cobra as a prototype lightweight fighter for the United States Air Force’s Lightweight Fighter (LWF) …