The McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet is their direct ancestors to the Northrop Cobra, a twin-engine multimission fighter design developed for the export market in late 1960. The YF-17 was a prototype fighter aircraft developed to demonstrate the application of advanced technology to fight the air. Features include Distingwishing moderate wing sweep, with large highly swept leading edge root zone differential failure of the fuselage, the entries under the wings with the slots in the wing root for the diversion of the fuselage boundary layer, two vertical lines and two jet engines.
In the Vietnam War, the lack of maneuverability of U.S. fighters at transonic speeds provided key advantages to nimble enemy fighters. Industry, the Department of Defense (DOD) and NASA were encouraged everyone to support research to achieve unprecedented transonic maneuverability while maintaining excellent handling qualities. In early 1970 the Air Force pushed for the development of a new generation of fighter-jets lightweight single-seat "optimized" for agility and air combat maneuvers, high thrust to weight (above 1 to 1), and good acceleration. Out of this interest was the "light fighter" program.
On January 6, 1972, the Air Force issued a request for proposals (RFP) for a lightweight fighter (LWF) program. Participants were told to tailor their specifications toward the goal of developing a lightweight air superiority fighter truth. General Dynamics and Northrop were asked to build prototypes, which could be evaluated with no promise of a production contract monitoring. These should be strictly technology demonstrators. 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 targets. Northrop entry was derived from the Cobra design. Northrop produced the twin-engine YF-17 using advanced aerodynamic technologies and two high-thrust General Electric YJ101 engines. General Dynamics said the pact YF-16, built around a single F100 engine.
