The U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor's Achilles Heel

The F-22 Raptor, the U.S.'s unparalleled air superiority fighter, saw its production halted at 187 units due to various factors, including its prolonged development period that outlasted its Soviet counterpart and economic constraints heightened by concurrent wars and the 2008 recession. Originally intended to replace the F-15C Eagle, its cost escalated from an estimated $35 million per plane to a program total of $26.2 billion. The changing geopolitical landscape and financial pressures from ongoing conflicts and economic downturns led to its premature cessation, despite the resurgence of peer competitors like China and Russia, challenging the decision's foresight.

[@slayersboxer915]

Its real achilles heel is that it was never produced for our allies like the airframes that came before it. Was expected this would happen because of that, but because no one else has it you don't need as many of them either.

[@michaelogden5958]

Well at least the contractors and politicians benefitted from the Raptor's extended development time. And that's important. Right? 🙄

[@scottlink183]

No. The problem is the airplane is flawed beyond repair. Pilots are still suffering from severe hypoxia symptoms while flying the aircraft. The airplane has been restricted from flying above 25,000 ft.
In addition the amount and cost to maintain the ram coating is a grueling time consuming process.

[@givemeabreak8784]

At least you come back home alive 👍👍

[@nesay678]

Raptor is now a garbage now Fashion KAAN 🤘🇹🇷

[@TheBongReyes]

So, you’re saying the KAAN is a superior aircraft to the F-22?