A-12 Avenger carrier-based multirole fighter

The Advanced Tactical Aircraft (ATA) was an attack aircraft development program to provide an eventual replacement for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps A-6 Intruder /EA-6B Prowler series. The Avenger was to be a night/all-weather, high-performance strike aircraft. After several years of secret development and several months of accelerating cost projections and schedule stretch-outs, Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney cancelled the program in January 1991.

A Navy-approved artist's...