The the late 1980s the GD + McD A-12 Avenger II was a USN/Marine project intended to be an all-weather, carrier-based stealth bomber replacement for the A-6 Intruder. The mockups of the craft revealed a flying wing design in the shape of an isosceles triangle, with the torpedo cockpit situated near the apex of the triangle with engine inlets buried underneath. The aircraft was designed to have two General Electric F412-GE-D5F2 turbofans, each producing about 13,000 lb thrust, and was equipped to carry: 2x AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles, 2x AGM-88 HARMs and a full complement of air-to-ground ordnance, including Mk 82 bombs, or smart bombs, in an internal weapons bay. Crew of 2, low thrust non-afterburning engines, speed of under 600 mph, slow climb of 5000 fpm, ceiling of just 40,000 ft, and range of under 1000 miles. In other words, WW2 performance of German jets. The A-12 gained the nickname "Flying Dorito" due to its shape. However, the aircraft suffered numerous technical problems throughout its development, especially with the materials, and when the projected cost of each aircraft rose to an estimated US$165 million, the project was canceled by then-Secretary of Defense, Dick Cheney, in January 1991. After the cancellation of the A-12, the Navy elected to buy the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, which replaced the A-7, the A-6, and the F-14. In the 21st century the USN is investigating UCAVs instead as manned stealth aircraft and carrier aviation do not seem to mix well. The A-12 was scrapped (see below) and now only the canopy survives on sale for $650,000!!!

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