What You Need to Know: The F-22 Raptor is widely regarded as the most formidable fighter jet ever built. As the first fifth-generation stealth aircraft, it combines unparalleled speed, agility, and firepower.

-Powered by two Pratt & Whitney F119 engines, the Raptor can reach supersonic speeds for sustained periods, while its advanced radar systems and stealth capabilities allow it to dominate air-to-air and air-to-ground combat.

-Initially, the Air Force planned to acquire 750 Raptors, but only 200 were built due to shifting priorities post-Cold War. With the introduction of the F-35 and the upcoming Next Generation Air Dominance program, the future of the F-22 remains uncertain.

The F-22 Raptor is the most expensive per-unit fighter jet ever built, but the formidable airframe is well worth its hefty price tag.

As the first fifth-generation platform to enter service with any military, the American-made F-22 will always be a legend. Many fifth-generation platforms have since taken to the skies, including the American-made F-35 Lightning II, China’s Chengdu J-20 and the Russian Su-57, but the F-22 still flies at the head of the class. From a tiny cross-radar section and enhanced thrust-to-weight ratio, to greater fire power and faster speed, the Raptor’s characteristics leave it without parallel.

American engineers began researching replacement........

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