The entire "N-156 to Superbug, F-20 included" saga is amazing. The weirdest part is Northrop getting screwed thrice in a row in merely a decade (!!) 1975 - 1985
- F-17 by the GD F-16
- F-18L by MDD Hornet
- F-20 by, well - politics ?
Their earlier F-5A and F-5E victories were paid in blood later.
Sometimes I wonder whether an earlier, proto-Tigershark "J101 F-5E" would not have been a better bargain than the P.530 Cobra circa 1970-71. Hindsight of course is always 20/20.