The US Congress is trying to slow the dismantling of the F-22 Raptor fighters, but the Pentagon continues to insist on the need to replace the Air Force’s fighter fleet with F-35s. The first 30 F-22s are expected to be retired this year. year, but Congress is proposing to extend the deadline for their operation until 2030 due to the technical difficulties of the F-35 aircraft.
However, the Department of Defense calculated that another 7 years of operating 180 F – 22 aircraft would cost the US budget $9 billion. This is equivalent to the cost of 110 new F – 35. In addition to the high cost of operating the F – 22, from a technical point of view it loses in many respects to the aircraft of a potential enemy. Military Watch Magazine believes that further operation and modernization of the F-22 is not economically viable.
The current obsolescence of their avionics, even compared to the fourth generation fighters of the early 2000s, and even more so compared to fifth generation competitors such as the F-35 and J.-20. This calls into question their viability in aerial combat, in particular the lack of modern data transmission channels
writes MW.
The F – 22 Raptor cannot compete in terms of weapons with the main competitor – the Chinese fighter J – 20. In addition, the American aircraft has a very short flight range, which is a serious problem in case of conflict in the Asia-Pacific region. In general, its further exploitation is not profitable. However, Congress insists on keeping the F-22s in service because replacing them quickly with new fighters is problematic.
The absence of any other fighter optimized for air superiority in the United States Navy other than the F-15, which has been flying since 1972, as well as serious problems impeding the development of the much lighter fifth-generation F-35 fighter, have caused Congressional indecision regarding the start of the dismantling of the F-22, despite its significant shortcomings
writes MW.
Photos used: US Air Force
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