Forget retirement, the Air Force aims to see how good the F-22 can get

– BREAK –

With the future of America’s next air superiority fighter now in question, America’s king of the skies, the F-22 Raptor, is set to extend its reign well into the 2030s, thanks to a slew of upgrades already underway — and the list keeps getting longer, with some $10.9 billion allocated to improving the Raptor fleet by 2031.

But with only 150 F-22s in combat service... Can improving this endangered species of a fighter really be enough to maintain America's air superiority edge?

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Citations:

[MichaelJCaboose]

The Air Force looked at the SU57 and the J20 and said "screw it, NGAD would be overkill, lets just polish the Raptor a bit and save the trouble"

[jonniez]

Always thought retirement was dumber than ending production.

[lyfandeth]

If you've ever seen an F22 hauling ass, and then simply coming to a stop in midair and standing still on its tail, you realize that damn plane has way more talent than they ever gave it credit for.
Absolutely stunning.

[steppenwolf]

It was a BIG mistake to stop production at less than 200.America needs at least 400 F22.

[captainbagov]

Would you intercept me? I'd intercept me. The Kid.

[jasontritabaugh]

The F-22 doesn't need to be replaced. But the loyal wingman drones need to be developed. The 22 can decrease patrols, and B-21 "guiding" a drone for engagements should be our norm. (And frankly, extend the guiding system to P-8 Options). Air to Air needs a new mindset.

[darhammora]

135 F-22 were upgraded to 16, 000 flying hours, and the job was complete by 2020

[jloiben]

B-52: Looks like I won’t be the only one outlasting humanity.

F-22 (in HLC voice): Would you intercept me? I’d intercept me.

B-52: Kill me now

[drakusk]

I'm from Anchorage AK, and loved seeing those birds fly above the city when I lived there. And I'm always happy to see footage from Alaska in the Raptor videos. :D

[BakerStudiosIndy]

Look at what we're doing with the F-15EX. A little of that same magic dust sprinkled on the Raptor and she'll be around for many years to come. She's already sneaky, fast, and deadly.

[Mountain-Man-]

Raptor was God tier 20 years ago and it still is. Legendary.

[jakobneubert]

F-22 will be upgraded decades to come.

[Dabs__Dayz]

My god was that a 3 minute ground news ad jesus christ

[kenshaffer]

Cutting F22 production short, and/or not supporting both the F22 and the YF23, continues to be the most shortsighted decision fiscal decision ever made. 🙄

[shaggyofwv]

The F-22 is just a reminder of how far ahead of the competition we once were. Thanks to trillions of dollars “spent” in the Middle East, our enemies have closed the gap significantly. 750 Raptors would have been an amazing thing. Too bad the DOD lacked the vision to see the need for them.

[polarbear]

Oh my, the f22 vs goldeneye really told me how far I was behind airpower vs the anticipated!

[jeremygair]

Given the stealth profile of those Chicom fighters, the raptor will give new definition to the term turkey shoot.

Particularly if partnered with AIM 260.

So instead of referencing the Marianas turkey shoot it will be the great Taiwanese turkey shoot.

[GeorgeWashingtonLaserMusket]

We need to make up our dag on mind, are we building the NGAD or keeping the F-22 and if it's the latter we need to produce more. I love the F-22 and canceling production was one of the dumbest things anyone has ever done.

[GhostRyderFPV]

_"...the Air Force awarded another Billion Dollar contract to RTX..."_
In the September news cycle:
_"RTX Admits To Unlawful Exchange Of Intel"_
_"Company will pay a $200 million fine for inadvertently releasing sensitive data."_
You can't make this up...

[andym]

Wow - look at that cockpit. I've spent thousands of hours piloting WWII fighters via an old game called "Warbirds". The view from the pilot's seat on that thing is unreal.