View source for McDonnell Douglas A-12 Avenger II

{{Short description|Proposed carrier-based strike aircraft}}
{{Distinguish|Lockheed A-12|Curtiss A-12 Shrike}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2022}}
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{{Infobox aircraft
 |name= A-12 Avenger II
 |image= File:A-12 Avenger II concept art.jpg
 |caption= Artist's impression of the A-12 in flight
 |type= All-weather naval stealth bomber<ref name="Stevenson">Stevenson 2001, p. 35.</ref>
 |manufacturer= [[McDonnell Douglas]] and [[General Dynamics]]
 |designer=
 |status= Canceled
 |produced=
 |primary_user= [[United States Navy]]
 |more_users= [[United States Marine Corps]]
 |number_built= 0; [[mockup]] only
}}

The '''General Dynamics/McDonnell Douglas A-12 Avenger II''' was a proposed American [[attack aircraft]] from [[General Dynamics]] and [[McDonnell Douglas]]. It was to be an all-weather, carrier-based [[stealth aircraft|stealth]] bomber replacement for the [[Grumman A-6 Intruder]] in the [[United States Navy]] and [[United States Marine Corps|Marine Corps]]. Its ''Avenger II'' name was taken from the [[Grumman TBF Avenger]] of World War II.

The development of the A-12 was troubled by cost overruns and several delays, causing questions of the program's ability to deliver upon its objectives; these doubts led to the development program's cancellation in 1991. The manner of its cancellation was contested through litigation until a settlement was reached in January 2014.

==Design and development==
===Advanced Tactical Aircraft program===
The United States Navy began the Advanced Tactical Aircraft (ATA) program in 1983. The program was to develop and field a replacement for the A-6 Intruder by 1994. Stealth technology developed for the United States Air Force would be used heavily in the program.<ref>[http://www.jsf.mil/history/his_prejast.htm "Advanced Tactical Aircraft (ATA) 1983–1991".] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191206155846/http://www.jsf.mil/history/his_prejast.htm |date=6 December 2019 }} ''jsf.mil''. Retrieved 23 February 2011.</ref> Concept design contracts were awarded to the industry teams of [[McDonnell Douglas]]/[[General Dynamics]], and [[Northrop Corporation|Northrop]]/[[Grumman]]/[[Vought]] in November 1984. The teams were awarded contracts for further concept development in 1986.<ref name= Jenkins_p95/>

The General Dynamics/McDonnell Douglas team was selected as the winner on 13 January 1988; the rival team led by Grumman surprisingly failed to submit a final bid.<ref name= Richardson_p110/> The General Dynamics/McDonnell Douglas team was awarded a development contract and the ATA aircraft was designated ''A-12''. The first flight was initially planned for December 1990.<ref name= Jenkins_p95>Jenkins 2002, p. 95.</ref> The A-12 was named ''Avenger II'' in homage to the [[World War II]]-era Navy [[torpedo-bomber]] [[Grumman TBF Avenger]].<ref>Richeson 1990, p. 14.</ref>

The Navy initially sought to buy 620 A-12s and Marines wanted 238. In addition, the Air Force briefly considered ordering some 400 of an A-12 derivative.<ref name= Jenkins_p95/><ref name= Mahnken>Mahnken 2008, p. 166.</ref> The A-12 was promoted as a possible replacement for the Air Force's [[General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark]], and for the United Kingdom's [[Panavia Tornado]] fighter-bombers.<ref name= Richardson_p110>Richardson 2001, p. 110.</ref> The craft was a [[flying wing]] design in the shape of an [[isosceles triangle]], with the [[Cockpit (aviation)|cockpit]] situated near the apex of the triangle.<ref name= Jenkins_p96-7>Jenkins 2002, pp. 96–97.</ref> The A-12 gained the nickname "Flying [[Doritos|Dorito]]".<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Suciu |first=Peter |url=https://nationalinterest.org/blog/reboot/12-avenger-ii-flying-dorito-5000000000-bomber-never-flew-209896 |title=A-12 Avenger II: 'Flying Dorito' $5,000,000,000 Bomber That Never Flew |magazine=[[The National Interest]] |date=November 19, 2024 |access-date=November 4, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241120170509/https://nationalinterest.org/blog/reboot/12-avenger-ii-flying-dorito-5000000000-bomber-never-flew-209896 |archive-date=November 20, 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref>

The aircraft was to be powered by two [[General Electric F404|General Electric F412-D5F2]] [[turbofan]] engines, each producing about {{convert|13000|lbf|kN|sigfig=2|lk=on}} of thrust. It was designed to carry [[precision-guided munition|precision guided weapons]] internally,<ref name=Jenkins_p95/> up to two [[AIM-120 AMRAAM]] air-to-air missiles, two [[AGM-88 HARM]] air-to-ground missiles and a complement of air-to-ground ordnance, including unguided or precision-guided bombs, could be carried in an internal weapons bay. It has been claimed that the A-12 was to be capable of delivering nuclear weapons held in its internal weapons bay as well.<ref name= Polmar_Norris_p75>Polmar and Norris 2009, p. 75.</ref> The A-12 was to have a weapons load of {{convert|5160|lb|kg|sigfig=2}}.<ref name= Thomason_p184>Thomason 2009, p. 184.</ref>

Beginning in early 1990 General Dynamics and McDonnell Douglas revealed delays and projected cost increases. Due to late requirement changes to the aircraft impacting the composite design, aircraft weight had increased to 30% over design specification. This was unwelcome for an airplane that needed to operate efficiently and effectively from an aircraft carrier.<ref name= Mahnken/> Technical difficulties with the complexity of the radar system to be used also caused costs to increase; by one estimate the A-12 was to consume up to 70% of the Navy's budget for aircraft.<ref name= Mahnken/> After delays, its critical design review was successfully completed in October 1990 and the maiden flight was rescheduled to early 1992.<ref>Thomason 2009 1993, p. 185.</ref> In December 1990 plans were made for 14 Navy aircraft carriers to be equipped with a wing of 20 A-12s each.<ref>Richeson 1990, pp. 15–16.</ref>

A government report released in November 1990 documented serious problems with the A-12 development program. In December 1990 [[United States Secretary of Defense|Secretary of Defense]] [[Dick Cheney]] told the Navy to justify the program and deliver reasons why it should not be canceled. The response given by the Navy and the contractors failed to persuade the Secretary of Defense, as he canceled the program in the following month, on 7 January 1991, for breach of contract.<ref name= Jenkins_p95/><ref>Yenne 1993, p. 13.</ref>

{{Quote box|align=right|width=25%|quote="The A-12 I did terminate. It was not an easy decision to make because it's an important requirement that we're trying to fulfill. But no one could tell me how much the program was going to cost, even just through the full scale development phase, or when it would be available. And data that had been presented at one point a few months ago turned out to be invalid and inaccurate."|source=<small>Secretary of Defense [[Dick Cheney]], 1991.<ref>[http://www.cdi.org/adm/723/transcript.html "Lifting the Veil of Military Secrecy".] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628200712/http://www.cdi.org/adm/723/transcript.html |date=28 June 2011 }} ''America's Defense Monitor'', 20 February 1994. Retrieved 26 February 2011.</ref></small>}}

The government felt the contractors could not complete the program and instructed them to repay most of the $2 billion that had been spent on A-12 development. McDonnell Douglas and General Dynamics disputed this in [[United States Court of Federal Claims|Federal Claims court]].<ref name= Jenkins_p95-6>Jenkins 2002, pp. 95–96.</ref> The reasons and causes for the cancellation have been debated and have been an issue of controversy.<ref>Cohen, Eliot A. [http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/57484/eliot-a-cohen/the-5-billion-misunderstanding-the-collapse-of-the-navys-a-12-st ''"Review of'': 'The $5 Billion Misunderstanding: The Collapse of the Navy's A-12 Stealth Bomber Program'"]. ''Journal of Foreign Affairs''. January/February 2002. Retrieved 1 March 2011.</ref>

===Aftermath===
[[File:Frontiers of Flight Museum December 2015 068 (McDonnell Douglas-General Dynamics A-12 Avenger II model).jpg|thumb|left|An A-12 Avenger II model on display at the [[Frontiers of Flight Museum]]]]
After the cancellation of the A-12, the Navy initiated a new attack aircraft program, the Advanced Attack (A-X), to replace the [[A-6 Intruder]]; A-X would shortly become the Advanced Attack/Fighter (A/F-X) due to added fighter capabilities to eventually replace the [[F-14 Tomcat]] as well. Meanwhile, the Navy also elected to purchase the [[Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet|F/A-18E/F Super Hornet]] as an interim for A/F-X, and the Super Hornet uses the [[General Electric F414]] turbofan engine, which is a modified variant of the upgraded F404 version developed for the A-12.<ref>Senior 2003, p. 44.</ref> A/F-X would be canceled in the 1993 Bottom Up Review, leaving the Super Hornet as the mainstay of the Navy's tactical air power.<ref name="NATF to JSF">{{cite book |last1=Aronstein |first1=David |last2=Hirschberg |first2=Michael |title=Advanced Tactical Fighter to F-22 Raptor: Origins of the 21st Century Air Dominance Fighter |publisher=American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics |location=Arlington, Virginia |year=1998 |page=240 |isbn=978-1-56347-282-4}}</ref> The full-size A-12 [[mockup]] was revealed to the public at the [[Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth]] in June 1996.<ref name= Jenkins_p96>Jenkins 2002, p. 96.</ref> The cancellation of the A-12 is seen as one of the major losses in the 1990s that weakened McDonnell Douglas and led to its merger with rival Boeing in 1997.<ref>Boyne 2002, pp. 404–405.</ref> After years of being in storage at the Lockheed Martin Aeronautics (formerly General Dynamics) facility in Fort Worth, Texas, the mockup was transported to Veterans Memorial Air Park (later renamed [[Fort Worth Aviation Museum]]<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.facmuseum.org/docs/VMAP%20Monthly/VAMP%20Monthly%20October%202013.pdf |title=New Name - New Look |date=October 2013|newspaper=FWAM Monthly|access-date=2014-02-20 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140306132019/http://www.facmuseum.org/docs/VMAP%20Monthly/VAMP%20Monthly%20October%202013.pdf |archive-date=6 March 2014 }}</ref>) adjacent to [[Fort Worth Meacham International Airport|Meacham Airport]] in north Fort Worth in June{{nbs}}2013.<ref>Bob Booth special. Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 June 2013.</ref>

The manner in which the program was canceled led to years of litigation between the contractors and the [[United States Department of Defense|Department of Defense]] over breach of contract ([[General Dynamics Corp. v. United States]]). On 1 June 2009, the [[United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit|U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit]] ruled that the U.S. Navy was justified in canceling the contract. The ruling also required the two contractors to repay the U.S. government US$1.35 billion, plus interest charges of US$1.45 billion. [[Boeing]], which had merged with McDonnell Douglas, and General Dynamics vowed to appeal the ruling.<ref>Borak, Donna [https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-us-navy-aircraft-boeing-general-dynamics-060209-2009jun02-story.html "Court upholds Navy cancellation of A-12 aircraft"]. Associated Press via The San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 June 2009. Retrieved 20 October 2019.</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.kansas.com/news/article1007269.html |title=Court upholds Navy cancellation of A-12 aircraft |publisher=The Wichita Eagle |date=2 June 2009 |access-date=20 October 2019}}</ref> In September 2010, the U.S. Supreme Court said it would hear the two companies' arguments, that the government canceled the project improperly and that the use of the [[state secrets privilege]] by the U.S. prevented them from mounting an effective defense.<ref>Liptak, Adam. [https://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/29/us/29scotus.html "Supreme Court Takes Cases on Corporations' Rights"]. ''[[The New York Times]]'', 28 September 2010. Retrieved 28 September 2010.</ref> In May 2011, the Supreme Court set aside the Appeals Court decision and returned the case to federal circuit court.<ref>Weisgerber, Marcus. [https://archive.today/20120727232415/http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=6595000&c=AME&s=TOP "Supreme Court Overturns A-12 Ruling Against Contractors"]. ''Defense News'', 23 May 2011.</ref> In January 2014, the case was settled with Boeing and General Dynamics agreeing to pay $200 million each to the U.S. Navy.<ref>[https://www.reuters.com/article/boeing-generaldynamics-settlement-idUSL2N0KX2M720140124 "UPDATE 1-Boeing, General Dynamics reach $400 mln A-12 settlement with U.S. Navy".] Reuters, 23 January 2014.</ref>

==Specifications (A-12 Avenger II)==
[[File:A-12avenger2.png|thumb|Various views of the A-12 as designed]]
[[File:A-12 Avenger comparative aircraft size NAN11-90.jpg|thumb|A top view of A-12 vs. [[Grumman F-14 Tomcat]] (wings spread) and [[Grumman A-6 Intruder]] (wings folded)]]
{{pb}}
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=Stealth Warplanes<ref name= Richardson_p110/>
|prime units?=kts
<!--
        General characteristics -->
|crew=2
|length ft=37
|length in=10
|length note=
|span ft=70
|span in=3
|span note=
|width ft=36
|width in=3
|width note=wings folded
|height ft=11
|height in=3
|height note=
|wing area sqft=1308
|wing area note=
|aspect ratio=<!-- sailplanes -->
|airfoil=
|empty weight lb=39000
|empty weight note=
|gross weight lb=
|gross weight note=
|max takeoff weight lb=80000
|max takeoff weight note=
|fuel capacity= {{convert|21322|lb|kg|sigfig=2}} (internal)<ref name= Thomason_p184/>
|more general=
<!--
        Powerplant -->
|eng1 number=2
|eng1 name=[[General Electric F412-GE-D5F2]]
|eng1 type=[[turbofan]] engines
|eng1 kn=58
|eng1 note=
|power original=
|thrust original=
|eng1 kn-ab=<!-- afterburners -->
|eng1 lbf-ab=<!-- afterburners -->
<!--
        Performance -->
|max speed kts=500
|max speed note=
|max speed mach=<!-- supersonic aircraft -->
|cruise speed kts=
|cruise speed note=
|stall speed kts=
|stall speed note=
|never exceed speed kts=
|never exceed speed note=
|minimum control speed kts=
|minimum control speed note=
|range nmi=
|range note=
|combat range nmi=800
|combat range note=
|ferry range nmi=
|ferry range note=
|endurance=<!-- if range unknown -->
|ceiling ft=40000
|ceiling note=
|g limits=<!-- aerobatic -->
|roll rate=<!-- aerobatic -->
|glide ratio=<!-- sailplanes -->
|climb rate ftmin=5000
|climb rate note=
|time to altitude=
|wing loading lb/sqft=61
|wing loading note=
|fuel consumption lb/mi=
|thrust/weight=0.325

|more performance=
<!--
        Armament -->
|armament=* '''Payload capability:''' {{convert|5160|lb|kg|sigfig=2}} in internal weapons bay including:<ref name= Thomason_p184/>
:* 2× [[AIM-120 AMRAAM]] air-to-air missiles<ref name= Polmar_Norris_p75/>
:* 2× [[AGM-88 HARM]] air-to-ground missiles<ref name= Polmar_Norris_p75/>
:* Unguided or precision-guided bombs<ref name= Polmar_Norris_p75/>

|avionics=
}}

==See also==
{{aircontent
|see also= <!-- other related articles that have not already linked: -->
* [[Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit]]
* [[Northrop Grumman X-47A Pegasus]]
|related= <!-- designs which were developed into or from this aircraft: -->
|similar aircraft= <!-- aircraft that are of similar Role, Era, and Capability this design: -->
* [[Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet]]
* [[Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk]]
* [[Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II]]
|lists= <!-- relevant lists that this aircraft appears in: -->
* [[List of attack aircraft]]
* [[List of flying wing aircraft]]
* [[List of military aircraft of the United States]]
<!-- See [[WP:Air/PC]] for more explanation of these fields. -->
}}

==References==
;Citations
{{Reflist}}

;Bibliography
{{Refbegin}}
* Boyne, Walter J. ''Air Warfare: An International Encyclopedia, Volume 1''. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-CLIO, 2002. {{ISBN|978-1-57607-345-2}}.
* Jenkins, Dennis R. ''Grumman A-6 Intruder – WarbirdTech Volume 33''. North Branch, Minnesota: Specialty Press, 2002. {{ISBN|1-58007-050-7}}.
* Mahnken, Thomas G. ''Technology and the American Way of War''. New York: Columbia University Press, 2008. {{ISBN|978-0-231-12336-5}}.
* Polmar, Norman., and Robert Stan Norris. ''The U.S. Nuclear Arsenal: A History of Weapons and Delivery Systems Since 1945''. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press, 2009. {{ISBN|978-1-55750-681-8}}.
* Richardson, Doug. [https://books.google.com/books?id=qZlrReU-cMkC ''Stealth Warplanes''.]{{Dead link|date=October 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Osceola, WI: Zenith Imprint, 2001. {{ISBN|978-0-7603-1051-9}}.
* Richeson, Jim. [https://web.archive.org/web/20140528164357/http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1990s/1990/nd90.pdf "Coming Soon to a Carrier Near You: Avenger".] ''Naval Aviation News'', December 1990. pp.&nbsp;14–19.
* Senior, Tim. ''The Air Forces Book of the F/A-18 Hornet''. Osceola, Wisconsin: Zenith Imprint, 2003. {{ISBN|978-0-946219-69-8}}.
* Stevenson, James P. ''The $5 Billion Misunderstanding: the Collapse of the Navy's A-12 Stealth Bomber Program''. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press, 2001. {{ISBN|978-1-55750-777-8}}.
* Thomason, Tommy H. ''Strike from the Sea: U.S. Navy Attack Aircraft from Skyraider to Super Hornet, 1948 – present''. North Branch, Minnesota: Specialty Press, 2009. {{ISBN|978-1-58007-132-1}}.
* Yenne, Bill. ''Weapons of the 21st Century''. New York; Avenel, New Jersey: Crescent Books, 1993. {{ISBN|978-0-517-06976-9}}.
{{Refend}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|McDonnell Douglas A-12 Avenger II}}
* [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/a-12.htm A-12 Avenger II on GlobalSecurity.org]
* [http://www.star-telegram.com/2013/06/28/4971064/a-12a-avenger-stealth-fighter.html A-12 Avenger II Mock-up photos on Fort Worth Star-Telegram.com]

{{McDD aircraft}}
{{US attack aircraft}}
{{Stealth aircraft}}
{{Authority control}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:McDonnell Douglas A-12 Avenger II}}
[[Category:McDonnell Douglas aircraft]]
[[Category:General Dynamics aircraft|A-12]]
[[Category:Flying wings]]
[[Category:Stealth aircraft]]
[[Category:Carrier-based aircraft]]
[[Category:Cancelled military aircraft projects of the United States]]
[[Category:United States military scandals]]
[[Category:Tailless delta-wing aircraft]]
[[Category:Twinjets]]
[[Category:Aircraft with retractable tricycle landing gear]]