Old story on how US military research and prototype projects are handled once the project is “no-go” by Pentagon.

Do you remember RAH-66 Comanche helicopter?

The project was canceled.

So, what happens to all the prototypes that were already built and tested, design drawings, computer simulations, machines to make parts?

It was an Army program.  So, the US Army takes possession of the prototype helicopters, and put everything else in big boxes, then store them in a big warehouse for a few years.  Then, depending on who runs the storage facility, those parts get “auctioned off”… for scrap metal prices.

With YF-23 project….once it was canceled, Northrop’s  YF-23 project supercomputer was boxed, stored for a few years, then was auctioned.  It turned out, the small scrap metal company that bought the computer was a new company that nobody knew much about.  The computer ended up in Chengdu.

An old story.

Sincerely,

Hwa Lahng