The now-retired US Air Force F-22 programme was formerly the world’s most expensive and advanced fighter. Only the F-35 of the USAF surpassed it. The US Congress made sure the military couldn’t share the technology with anyone, even allies. But it was American friends who first used the F-35 aircraft in combat.
When the Obey Amendment to the 1998 Department of Defense Appropriations Act was enacted, it specifically prohibited the sale of the F-22 Raptor to any foreign government, despite the fact that foreign governments were lining up to purchase the fighter. The $62 billion F-22 programme would have benefitted from the sale of the fighter to American allies, which would have reduced some of the research and development costs.
The development of technology that makes the F-22’s radar signature more similar to that of a bumblebee would require billions of dollars and countless years to develop on one’s own, according to the Air Force. Who in their right mind would want to go to such lengths to support the United States military when they could simply acquire the necessary technology? They couldn’t, because they didn’t have the F-35 until they got it.
Israel was interested in the F-22. Obtaining some F-22s for the Japanese Self-Defense Forces was a major priority for the country. If Japan had been able to purchase, South Korea would have demanded parity first, followed by Singapore and then Australia. Even China would have indicated an interest in such a project. Although time has passed, Japan’s neighbours are nevertheless concerned about the resurgence of militarism on the island nation’s soil.
As China’s air forces continue to build superior stealth fighters of their own, the Chengdu J-20, the necessity for stealth jets in the hands of and over the skies of American partners is more critical than ever before. Even in the 1990s, this was still the case.
Exactly, the F-22 development was terminated because it was extremely expensive, and the necessity for an air-to-air fighter to counter Soviet planes just wasn’t a top priority for the United States military any longer. The United States military purchased only 183 Raptors, well short of the projected total of 381. But then China and Russia began manufacturing next-generation aircraft on their own, prompting the United States to redouble its efforts to develop the Joint Strike Fighter.
F35 vs F22
Since its introduction into combat readiness in 2003, the F-22 Raptor has literally “landed” all other fighters in order to acquire air superiority. This is because the only option for them to survive when the Raptors are in the air is to remain in the hangars while the Raptors are in the air.
As I have stated, such a strategic military advantage is almost never offered to anyone. Even the closest of allies can be manipulated. This isn’t about preserving control over cutting-edge technology; rather, it’s about gaining the most crucial thing in politics and war: a strategic edge.
The F-35, in contrast to the Raptor, is and will continue to be a tactical aircraft.
Developed by Lockheed Martin and designed for mass production, the F-35 Lightning II is a fifth-generation multi-role fighter-bomber. The emphasis here is on mass production and multi-functionality. This is not an aircraft that, by itself, confer a strategic advantage on the United States.
As a result, although the F-35 Lightning outperforms the F-22 Raptor in some technical features, such as the presence of infrared search and track sensors, the ability to independently transmit information through a tactical exchange system, and the presence of side-scan radars to guide the missile while in flight, the F-22 Raptor outperforms the F-35 Lightning in others, such as the presence of infrared search and track sensors, the ability to independently transmit information through a tactical.
The delivery of escort data after the missile has deviated more than 90 degrees from its intended trajectory, as well as its sale to US allies, do not provide the United States with a strategic advantage.
Even American politicians, who are not known for their intellectual prowess, military competence, or sense of morality, recognise this.
Another reason is that the F-22 is an air superiority fighter capable of destroying the F-35 while it is in mid-flight, which makes it a viable option. That’s exactly what the F-22 was designed to do: destroy other fighters in the course of a conflict like in the bedwars servers.
As a result, even if the F-35 technology escaped the authority of the United States and its allies, the United States would still have a superior aircraft capable of destroying anything an enemy nation would develop as a result of the use of an F-35.
Also, the stealth technology that was utilized to create the F-35 isn’t nearly as “stealthy” like that used to shape the F-117 fighter jet. That’s because they made concessions in order to improve the aerodynamics of the F-35, which improved its ability to fly quickly and battle.
