The chief reasons given by the Secretary were the YF-16's lower operating costs, greater range, and maneuver performance that was "significantly better" than that of the YF-17, especially at supersonic speeds.
De væsentligste årsager som ministeren fremhævede var YF-16s lave driftsomkostninger, større rækkevidde og en "betydeligt bedre" manøvreevne end den nærmeste konkurrent, YF-17, særligt ved supersoniske hastigheder.