Summary: Despite its formidable reputation, the F-22 Raptor has faced challenges in simulated dogfights, notably against older jets and the German Eurofighter Typhoons about a decade ago, tarnishing its invincible image. Notably, German pilots even sported F-22 kill markings post-exercise, a bold statement after their supposed victories. With the emergence of the Next Generation Air Dominance fighter, questions arise about the F-22's legacy and its real advantage: stealth or hype? The article delves into the 2012 Red Flag exercises, where the Typhoon's agility and capabilities, despite generational differences with the F-22, were showcased. Both aircraft, designed during the Cold War for air superiority, offer distinct approaches to aerial combat. The F-22 emphasizes stealth, sensor fusion, and advanced avionics, while the Typhoon focuses on maneuverability and multi-role capabilities. The exercises highlighted not only the Typhoon's potential to challenge the Raptor in specific scenarios but also the complexities of air combat, where variables beyond mere technical specs determine the outcome. Ultimately, the article suggests that while the F-22 remains a formidable fighter, its dominance is not absolute, illustrated by the nuanced and context-dependent nature of air warfare.
Despite the F-22 Raptor’s reputation as the world’s most capable air superiority fighter, the stealth jet has lost a number of notional dogfights over the years to older and less advanced platforms like the F-16 and even the Navy’s electronic-warfare specialist, the EA-18G Growler. But few exercises have done more damage to the mighty Raptor’s reputation than a series of training dogfights with German Eurofighter Typhoons that took place just about a decade ago.
These losses may have been notional, but some people clearly took them seriously. So seriously, in fact, that German Eurofighters were spotted wearing F-22 kill markings on their fuselages after telling the press that they had “Raptor salad for lunch.”
With the Air Force’s Next Generation Air Dominance fighter cruising toward service in the coming decade, it now seems likely that the mighty Raptor will retire without ever firing a shot at another aircraft in anger, making these simulated combat exercises and a handful of exciting intercepts the extent of the Raptor’s air-to-air legacy.
So what is that legacy exactly? Is the F-22 truly as........