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F-22 and F-16s
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The fifth-generation F-22A Raptor fighter program has been the subject of fierce controversy, with advocates and detractors aplenty. On the one hand, the aircraft offers full stealth, revolutionary radar and sensor capabilities, dual air-air and air-ground SEAD capabilities, the ability to cruise above Mach 1 without afterburners, thrust-vectoring super-maneuverability… and a ridiculously lopsided kill record in exercises against the best American fighters. On the other hand, critics charge that it’s too expensive, too limited, and cripples the USAF’s overall force structure. Meanwhile, close American allies like Australia, Japan and Israel, and other allies like Korea, are pressing the USA to abandon its “no export” policy. Most already fly F-15s, but they’re interested in an export version of the F-22 in order to help them deal with advanced – and advancing – Russian-designed aircraft, air-to-air missiles, and surface-to-air missile systems.

This DID FOCUS Article covers both sides of the F-22 controversies in the USA and abroad, and it will also be updated over time to cover and backfill contracts and events related to the F-22A Raptor program. As a result of reader feedback, the newest material has been made more visible by putting it in green type.

Recent additions include Japan and Israel’s ongoing interest in F-22EX aircraft, and a major tug-of-war between Congress and the USAF over frozen funds that could pre-empt decisions about the aircraft’s future. In response, the Pentagon flipped Congress the bird – and recently issued its associated contracts…

• The F-22 Raptor: Background & Controversies (aka. Continue reading…)
• F-22 Raptor: Program and Events
  • Events: 2008 [updated]
  • Events: 2007
  • Events: 2006
  • Events: Pre-2006
• F-22 Raptor: Contracts & Production
  • Contracts: FY 2009
  • Contracts: FY 2008
  • Contracts: FY 2007
  • Contracts: FY 2006
  • Contracts: Pre-FY 2006
• Additional Readings & Sources
  • The F-22 & Key Components
  • The F-22 Program
  • Official Reports [updated]
  • Controversies & Events

Subscribe here to get the full F-22 fighter jet story, reference materials, pictures, timeline and our daily updates to this and many other programs.

• Tracking of billions of dollars in awards as part of the Raptor's multi-billion dollar annual budget
• Key contract developments (including incomplete contracts), events, and the annual budget organized by year
• Developments including the influence of grounded F-15s, the looming F-35 JSF program, the F-22's first deployment to foreign soil, and potential foreign buyers despite the Congressional prohibition on F-22 exports.
• Discussion of the aircraft's impressive kill statistics in exercises, and of the strong criticisms it has faced.
• Program chronology beginning in 2003
• Articles, additional sources and links to eight more DII Spotlight, Focus and Daily Reports (a total of 33 cross-references in four categories)
• Insight into the complicated math of developing, producing, servicing or replacing a fighter plane series
• 15 photos

DII readers have access to Defense Industry Daily reports and our other DII feature articles about the F-22 Raptor. Plans start at $45/month. Subscribe now for these timesaving links, and more.

 

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