Maryland, December 24 - The Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor remains the pinnacle of stealth fighter technology, boasting unmatched air superiority through its advanced stealth capabilities, supercruise speed, thrust-vectoring maneuverability, and integrated sensor fusion. Designed as a fifth-generation stealth fighter to dominate contested airspace against peer adversaries, the F-22 Raptor stealth fighter incorporates low-observable features that make it nearly undetectable, allowing it to achieve air dominance in high-threat environments. However, despite its unparalleled performance as the world's premier air superiority stealth fighter, the United States Air Force is permanently barred from producing new F-22 Raptors due to the irreversible closure of its production line in 2011.
Production of the F-22 Raptor stealth fighter halted after only 187 operational aircraft were built, far short of the original plan for hundreds more, primarily because escalating costs and shifting strategic priorities post-9/11 favored counterinsurgency operations over high-end air-to-air combat. The rise of the multirole F-35 Lightning II, intended as a more affordable and versatile complement, further sealed the decision to terminate the F-22 program. Facilities and tooling dedicated to the F-22 Raptor were repurposed for F-35 production, while specialized subcontractors and supply chains for unique stealth materials and components dissolved or redirected efforts elsewhere. This deliberate shutdown created a "boutique" fleet, driving up sustainment costs for the existing F-22 Raptor stealth fighters to among the highest in the inventory.
Efforts to assess restarting F-22 Raptor production have consistently concluded it is economically and logistically prohibitive. A comprehensive Air Force study estimated that reviving the line to build additional stealth fighters would require billions in non-recurring startup costs alone, with per-unit prices exceeding $200 million, far higher than original production figures. Requalifying vendors, recreating obsolete processes, and sourcing discontinued specialized materials for the F-22's advanced stealth coatings render a restart impractical, even as geopolitical tensions highlight the need for more air superiority assets.
Instead, the Air Force is investing heavily in modernizing the current F-22 Raptor fleet with upgraded avionics, sensors, and software to extend its service life into the 2040s or beyond, while prioritizing the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program for future sixth-generation capabilities. The F-22 Raptor stealth fighter thus endures as an irreplaceable asset, its limited numbers a lasting reminder of strategic trade-offs in pursuing the ultimate air dominance platform.