Skunk works vs Phantom works

[zero-one]

PCA, F-X, NGAD will likely come from 1 of these 2 R&D divisions.
Forget cost, schedule and all the politics. From a design and technological point of view, who was more impressive for you and why?

P.S. does anyone have a list of all the programs they went up against each other and who came out on top more often?
As far as I know they faced each other in the ATF and JSF program with Skunk trumping Phantom both times.

[disconnectedradical]

You know that the engineers tend to jump around these companies right? In the mid-90s a good part of Skunk Works got hired away by Northrop. Also Phantom Works was originally McDonnell Douglas, while Boeing was on the Lockheed team for ATF and McDonnell Douglas was bought by Boeing after ATF decision. Also Phantom Works didn't have much to do with F-23 design, that was mainly Northrop. On the other hand Northrop is a main subcontractor for the Lockheed JSF.

Now consider that Northrop Grumman won against Lockheed Martin/Boeing on the B-21.

If you did a bit of research and reading you'll know it's really not as simple as you think.

[zero-one]

Never saw it as simple.
This a lot like those whose better Marvel or DC talks.
Writers jump ship all the time, but people still like to compare the 2.

Anyway, on all major programs the contractor weather McD, Lockheed or Boeing, talk big about the achievements of these 2 R&D departments. They treat it as if they were living entities that have great track records and will continue to have great track records.

There is a thread here comparing GE with P&W engines. Both companies have engineers that jump ship too, but there a lot of great discussion there about the 2 companies.

[sprstdlyscottsmn]

I prefer Grumman Iron Works.