On Friday, an F-22 Raptor fighter jet took off from Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, and shot down a Chinese spy balloon with an AIM-9 air-to-air missile over South Carolina.
The F-22 Raptor is the world’s most capable air superiority fighter jet. As a 5th-generation stealth aircraft, the F-22 packs some incredible technologies in a highly maneuverable supersonic platform.
But it is also a very strange aircraft in certain regards. Despite being the best in its role, the Pentagon decided to buy only 186 aircraft out of the intended 750. Furthermore, Congress shut the door to any prospective buyers, forbidding Lockheed Martin, the manufacturer, from ever selling the aircraft abroad.
But how could an aircraft that is so good at its job get shut down so quickly into production? And why couldn’t the U.S. sell it to the many foreign buyers who were rushing to purchase it?
The F-22 Raptor: A great aircraft
Introduced in 2005, the F-22 Raptor was intended to replace the venerable F-15 Eagle as America’s next air superiority fighter jet that would last well into the 2040s.
As an air dominance, multi-role fighter, the F-22 was the first 5th generation stealth fighter jet to fly. It combines advanced technology, such as stealth, sensor fusion to produce superb situational awareness, and an airframe that is highly maneuverable and can supercruise, or fly at supersonic speeds without the use of afterburners.
What makes the F-22 great in a dogfight is the aircraft’s thrust vectoring capabilities. Its two engines have specially designed nozzles at their ends that can move on a vertical plane to vector the aircraft’s 70,000 pounds of thrust in one direction even if the aircraft is heading in another, thus allowing the F-22 to do some impressive acrobatics, as well as leverage an extremely high angle of attack during a within-visual-range engagement (a dogfight).
Related: Just how good would an F-22/F-35 Hybrid Fighter really be?
The F-22 is quite versatile when it comes to the armament it can carry.
For a combat air patrol, the Raptor can carry two AIM-9 Sidewinder heat-seeking air-to-air missiles and six AIM-120 AMRAAM radar-guided missiles. For close air support or precision strike mission, the F-22 can carry two 1,000 pounds GBU-32 JDAMs or eight 250-pound Small Diameter Bombs, in addition to pairs of both AIM-9s and AIM-120s. In all of these loadouts, the aircraft’s M61A2 20-millimeter cannon with 480 rounds ensures a fearsome foe in dogfights.
Equally important, it can carry all the aforementioned munitions within its three internal weapons bays, meaning that the aircraft doesn’t sacrifice any stealth to carry all that firepower. In comparison, America’s other stealth fighter jet, the F-35, can only carry only four weapons in its two internal bays.
Related: What really happened when F-22s squared off against the Eurofighter Typhoon?
With an operational ceiling of 50,000 feet and a range of almost 1,900 miles (with two external fuel tanks that would limit its stealth capabilities), the F-22 can fly at speeds above Mach 2.
Despite the aircraft’s great characteristics, the F-22 program was short-lived. As in many cases involving humans, and as Mark Knopfler of the Dire Straits famously quipped, it seems it was that the timing was wrong.
The F-22 Raptor: An Unlucky aircraft
The F-22 entered service at a time when the U.S. military was fighting a two-front war with seemingly no end, against an irregular enemy in Afghanistan and Iraq.
As the Pentagon was pouring trillions into the Global War on Terror (GWOT), the F-22’s air superiority and stealth attributes went wasted against an enemy that could hardly dress its troops in the same uniform, let alone field fighter jets or advanced surface-to-air missile systems or radar.
But while utility attracts money, current threats determine utility. And in that regard, the F-22 Raptor must be one of the “unluckiest” aircraft of all time because, despite its phenomenal capabilities, it came into service at a time when there was no enemy for it to fight, despite the nation having no shortage of enemies.
Of the 186 F-22 Raptors delivered to the Air Force, only about 130 were ever operational. As a result, today, the Raptor is a bird facing extinction. Although current operational numbers are classified, it wouldn’t be irrational to assume that fewer than 100 F-22s are combat-ready at any given time, and every time a Raptor flies, it’s one less time it will fly in the future because of the lack of spare parts.
In 2011, the last Raptor rolled off the production line, and Lockheed Martin cannibalized its production line to support the F-35.
Related: Is the F-22 Raptor the Tomcat of the 21st century?
Sorry, it’s not for sale
Over the years, Israel, Japan, and Australia had repeatedly asked the Pentagon about potential purchases of the F-22 Raptor, but every time they were shot down. In 1998, Congress even voted for an amendment that explicitly forbids the sale of F-22 Raptors to foreign nations.
Unlike the vast majority of U.S. military aircraft, the F-22 was never designed to be exported. As such, it was packed with classified technology and produced through advanced production methodologies that the United States would rather keep close to the chest. To date, the U.S remains the leader in stealth aviation technologies the world over.
Related: UK intelligence says Russia’s Su-57 is involved in Ukraine war
China and Russia are always eager to steal technology from the U.S. to advance their own military and private industries. And they have repeatedly succeeded in doing so, perhaps most notably when China used cyber espionage and an insider source to get a hold of the F-35, F-22, and C-130 blueprints in 2016.
And exports of military aircraft have backfired in the past. Iran is still flying the American-made F-14 Tomcats the Shah had bought before the Iranian revolution, while Communist Venezuela protects its skies with American-made F-16s it bought in the 1980s. China’s highly capable J-10 fighter was largely based on America’s own F-16 after the U.S. exported related technologies to Israel, only to have their Lavi fighter program dissolve, at which point Israel sold those technologies to China.
But despite these concerns, the Department of Defense still entertained the idea of selling it abroad.
According to the War Zone, which managed to get a redacted copy of the Air Force’s F-22 Raptor export feasibility project through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), the Pentagon did entertain the idea of exporting its most advanced fighter jet at the time.
Several Air Force offices conducted studies with different variables on what such an export program would look like.
But, bottom line, Congress never authorized the money to fund an export version of the F-22. And foreign suitors were already eyeing another, even more expensive, project: The F-35.
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in November 2021. It has been updated for republication.
The F-22 Raptor features a range of cutting-edge technologies, such as stealth capabilities, advanced radar and sensor systems, and high-performance engines.
It’s easy to tell what a complete POS the F-35 is. We’re exporting to pretty much anybody with a few extra bucks
The F-35 was designed to be sold to our coalition partners after realizing that we were not interoperative during the first Gulf War. That’s why it’s called Joint Strike Fighter. It was developed by 10 partner countries as a sophisticated platform sharing advanced technologies.
Getting 10 different countries to help design it no wwonder it had so much overcost. Its also why future defense purchases now require cost estimates to be with the overall package raather than individual systems separately
They did sell them to other countries
Seems some people come to a factual sight to try ther hand at cancel culture. Everyone is entitled to their opinion but our fiend from Nigeria didn’t call anyone names yet the responses is to to call names and attack character. How disgraceful you claim to be Americans. You should be ashamed.
Fuck you asshole. The boys are gonna pay you a visit shithead. You fucking faggot. Piece of fucking shit. The boys are gonna fuck you up motherfucker. Fucking pussy!
Yeah the guy is a cocksucker! Stupid SOB.
I am from Nigeria, I’m so obsessed with the Americans, they are the police of this world, I know they will have a plan B about how to cage Russia. though the Russians are relative the US is proactive, Russia we’re sleeping when the US was building nato even to the extent that its former state members are now nato and western allies…God bless America and no place else, God bless fox news…..God bless the Republicans, God bless Trump…..America is gonna be great again in 2024…CNN is gonna collapse because she is the spreader of false news in Nigeria, unfortunately, Africans are so glued to CNN.
You could never be more wrong.. Fox News ws makes you an idiot
Agreed 👍
Fox News makes you a fucking faggot Robby boy! You piece of shit.
Seems like you’re the only idiot here.
You have diminished your existence by watching Fox News; you support Trump that says black people are backward and live on trees; it is fake Evangelical pastors who are spreading fake news in Nigeria, calling Trump the coming of Jesus Christ.
Sad how you have diminished your self-development by limiting your perspectives.
My recommendation to you would be to get off Fox News for about a year and watch other international news media. Come back and tell us about your growth and development. This will do you tons of good. Don’t waste your life. Best of luck to you.
You’re an idiot if you believe that. No one can be that stupid.
My recommendation to you asshole is to stop sucking so many cocks. It’s making you a retarded motherfucker!
You don’t even see how stupid you sound and look. It’s pathetic really and sad. You’re gonna put a guy down for the news channel he chooses to watch? Then say watch a different one and you’ll experience growth and development? ALL the news outlets are garbage and anyone that thinks one is better than the other or starts a fight over news media is just a simpleton and part of the sheeple flock. YOU are what’s wrong with the world today and if anyone needs to experience some “growth and development” it’s YOU buddy.
Trump is a disaster waiting to happen. He is not qualified to lead America. Self-defeating behavior is about narcissistic behavior. Playing the only cowboy on the block is a movie we can’t afford.
You misspelled Biden
I guess you suck Joey Biden’s tiny cock Davy boy!
My God, are there really this many ignorant morons in the world these days? The internet has straight made everyone stupid.
Taz vien wey. No mameiz.
Your so wrong , I’d be willing to even believe your a Russian bot, lol..trump is a criminal,a lying cheating greedy racist,granted many ppl followed him thinking and believing his trash only because ppl think if your rich you must be smarter than everyone and know what’s best, trump just used a pay book from Putin and used hate,and pushed left right and blue against red and too many ppl fell for it..sure he may of said plenty of things many ppl were thinking but those same things don’t belong on the world stage,or in American politics towards nato friends..trumps really hurt Americans outlook towards each other and how Americans are viewed around the world..trump gave North Korea a way for its criminal leaders to save face and stay in power, when they were finally about to be kicked out of power by its own ppl ,now they used trumps dumb actions as propaganda to say they forced America to the table and forced them to agree to peace treaties and other garbage, the potus shouldn’t ever met with dictators and bad actors around the world it simply gives them a platform towards legitimacy they don’t deserve…
I agree with some of the policies trump had but for the most part he simply hurt Americans…there won’t ever be a perfect usa with they way it acts and is viewed around the world, but if the USA and nato doesn’t stand up for good then who will, ? The USA needs to go back to being a leader in world tech,and protect its products and stop allowing certain American companies to do business by setting up plants around the world which helps China steal our products..wake up I say to the sleeping giant and protect your tech..
All you liberals at least are on a page named after where you keep your heads SandBox, all you need to move to a socialist country then tell me how great it is idiots at best
You’re a pussy Marky boy! A cocksucker too.
Dixie retards try not to confuse liberalism and communism challenge (impossible)
Well said
Thank you.
God bless you friend.. I’m an American citizen and a Cuban immigrant. I know what the other side is about and here we have it with a Democrat party. It’s disgusting and you obviously know the truth!
You absolute Mug…
https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/navy-ships/a28794/1982-uk-sub-stole-soviet-sonar-device/
Yeah, because Israel, Japan, and Australia are all countries in danger of going full-rogue state.
Sales to those countries could have had a massive cost-offset effect, meaning the U.S. would have been able to afford much more than the 186 that it bought, and keeping spares production open.
But, nah, let’s spend billions on a technological dead end, because three of our very closest allies can’t be trusted, apparently.
You didn’t read the article at all. Your opinion missed the mark completely. It wasn’t about cost per say the US didn’t have a near pear adversary to fight when spending trillions on the wars in the ME. FYI Japan and Australia are not by anymeans countries in-danger of going “rogue” we just transferred our attack nuclear sub technology to Australia and Japan is one of our main allies in the east that host thousands of US troops. Stop with the misinformation.
I love when you write this
China and Russia are always eager to steal technology from the U.S. to advance their own military and private industries. And they have repeatedly succeeded in doing so, perhaps most notably when China used cyber espionage and an insider source to get a hold of the F-35, F-22, and C-130 blueprints in 2016.
Do you remember, When PLA ccp china airforce flaunted their 5th gen J-something something to US F16 pilots by showing their jet fighter belly equiped with weapons, chinese pilots and their commanders are also showing to US what the chineses have stolen from US.
If US keeps declassify high tech to allies then slip, just count next 10yrs, china has already the best tech fromwestern.
Remember the ccp, PLAs the chinese play different tactic. They play dirty tricks
Enjoy those “blueprints” you thought you nabbed.
Your an idiot for believing CNN news and other goverment control news stations
Venezuela isn’t Communist.
It’s pretty horrible–worse than Cuba. Close enough?
As a Cuban immigrant I can tell you Venezuela is full-on communist exactly like Cuba. They may use words like progressive or socialist, but they’re BOTH communist… People that deny this are either illiterate, indoctrinated or Marxist themselves because like I said before, it’s easy to find out this information
YES it is…. God you’re a total idiot I would say you would be forgiven because you grow up here and and are the product of indoctrination through the public school system and beyond. But it’s 2022 and these things are easy to find out. So yes, you’re an idiot
The reason the air force only built 186 F-22s was Obama. It’s what the democrats do. They would rather buy votes with tax money than buy needed military equipment.
Israel isn’t the only “ally” that let US technology slip. The UK, when the government was full of communists, and Japan lost control of some US technology. That’s also why the F-117 wasn’t sold.
And President Obama wasn’t born in America, you’re an idiot stop listening to fox news and do some research so you know the truth but then you aren’t smart enough to do the research. The government spends half of our yearly budget on the military. You obviously didn’t pay attention to what you were reading since it said that congress banned the sell of the aircraft in 1998.
You’re the idiot. The US spends half of it’s discretionary spending on the military. Over 2/3’s is Mandatory spending on things like entitlements, pay etc to the US spends less than 1/6th of the budget on defense. Do a little research next time I stead of listening to cnn amd msnbc
The final number of 186 was defined in a defense spending bill passed by Congress in 2008.
Obama became president 2009.
Are you a bit stupid? If so, you should try to hide it better.
The defense authorization under G W Bush procured the final lot of raptors on his way out the door in 2009, leaving it to Obama to authorize the next production lot, or cease production. There were 9 test flight aircraft, and 186 production units. Obama, under the advice of his Sec. of Defense at the time (Robert Gates, bush appointee) declined press a democratic congressional budget that contained additional funding for continued production of the F22. So yes, Obama, working with a democratic congress led by nancy pelosi, ended the production of the Raptor.
Seems like no one here knows what the hell they’re talking about.
Great article Stavros. Can we get a write up on that FOIA query and what was in the feasibility study?
You bet! Thanks for reading, Mase.
Sad to see a well written article sullied in the comment section by easily provable falsehoods mixed with Antisemitic blood libel. Israel has already received and used the F-35, an arguably more useful and strategic 5th generation fighter than the F-22. Israel will recieve standard equipped F-35s and others with which Israel shall install its own systems. The IDF will also receive full blown Agies combat systems for their Saar 6 corvettes. There’s lots not to like about Israel but it is a full defense partner and not a colony of the U.S.
Israel is a good partner for developing laser weapons. They need to get powerfull enough to take out Chinese missile swarms.
Never turst the Yiddish mafia colony in the ME!
This article dances around the real reason that the F-22 was never exported. That reason is Israel. The Government knew that if we exported it at all, the political pressure would be such that the US would have to sell (or more likely give) F-22s to Israel. The Government further knew that Israel would violate any agreements that it made to keep the technology secret and instead sell the F-22 technology to Russia and China, as Israel invariably does with US tech that it acquires. The US Government would have been happy to sell F-22s to actual allies such as Australia or Britain, which could be depended upon not to sell the tech. But Israel queered the pitch for this idea so Congress uncharacteristically acted intelligently, and simply banned all sales. Of course, we then poured trillions down the “Global War On Terror” rathole, letting our manufacturing and deterrence infrastructure wither and die, for no return whatever. The result is that the air force now has no credible bomber force, fifty year old ICBMs that are not MIRVed, and no real air superiority fighters other than tiny fleet of F-22s that are out of production and more or less impossible to use.
Right on all points. I just want to add one thing, if Congress had a clue, they should have went forward with the FB-22 concept. In that they would have had a stealth supersonic bomber that wouldn’t need air support. But they let that slip right by. Just like the FB-16 concept that actually flew better than the fighter it was based on. The government should realize that by tweaking existing technologies, they can make much from little.
No doubt about that. But getting the Air Force to pay attention to its bomber force is a nearly impossible task. There is no real bomber leg to the “Triad” and thanks to Air Force negligence, the ground based ICBM force is similarly lacking in deterrent credibility. Why is the US, alone among all nuclear powers, chronically unable to deploy mobile land-based ICBMs?
Minuteman aren’t MIRVed because the decision was made, rather sensibly, to have the MIRV force deployed in subs.
ICBMs are designed as a second strike force. You fire off ICBMs in a conflict and the enemy will have launched theirs in return well before yours arrive.
I actually got lightheaded watching the video. I wonder if there is a high number of pilots that don’t pass the G-Force tests.
The f22 is not the only plane that can fly at 9g’s we have and had sold..the new nato plane can fly at 9gs as well, the issue is that 9gs is the limit for the human brain from what I’ve read…the next step is building fighters that don’t need humans to fly and will be able to fly and do things we will never be able to handle,and if we don’t go to drones as fighter jets and bombers then we will get left behind…