American soldiers were surrounded by the enemy deep in the heart of Vietnam. Their time was running out with every second wasted, but the thick jungle canopy and the treetops made it difficult for conventional aircraft to assist them.

The men on the ground called for immediate close air support, providing the Air Force with accurate locations of the approaching North Vietnamese troops.

Moments later, the roar of engines erupted above the treetop, signaling support was on the way. An innovative Northrop YA-9 Prototype soared through the sky.

The dedicated CAS aircraft with a shoulder-wing monoplane design and aluminum construction approaches the area without hesitation, its twin turbofan below the wings’ roots ready for a swift and precise bombing run.
As the whisper of enemy movements echoes through the canopy, the YA-9 descends with calculated precision, its split ailerons poised for action. With a thunderous roar, the pilot prepares for a low-level and slow run.
Fortunately for him, his YA-9 is heavily armored, with his canopy fully protected by various layers of a honeycomb structure that guarantees his safety and critical components from enemy fire.

The devastating 30-millimeter rotary cannon, firing over 4,000 rounds per minute, instantly tears through the dense foliage, shredding enemy positions relentlessly.

Vietnamese troops are instantly decimated. But it is not enough to lure them away from friendly forces. The YA-9 returns for another strafing run, carving another path of devastation through the thick jungle, dropping several bombs from its wingtips, unleashing a wave of smoldering flames.
This is the YA-9, the direct competitor to the Air Force’s Thunderbolt II.


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