You’ve probably seen the videos. A titanium bird hanging motionless in the sky, flipping end-over-end like a gymnast before screaming away at Mach 2. It’s the F-22 Raptor, and honestly, even twenty years after it first entered service, nothing else really comes close. We’re sitting here in 2026, and despite all the talk about drones and "sixth-gen" replacements, the Raptor is still the gold standard for air superiority.
But there’s a catch. Or a few of them.
The U.S. Air Force has a bit of a love-hate relationship with its silver bullet. On one hand, it’s the most dominant fighter ever built. On the other, it’s a maintenance nightmare that costs a small fortune every time it touches the sky. Basically, it’s like owning a vintage Ferrari that can also outrun a cruise missile.
What Most People Get Wrong About the F-22 Raptor
There is this weird myth that the Raptor is "old" because the design dates back to the 80s. That’s kinda like saying a Stradivarius is old. Sure, the airframes have some hours on them, but the guts are being ripped out and replaced constantly.
Right now, the fleet is going through a massive mid-life glow-up. We’re talking about new stealthy external fuel tanks that don’t ruin its radar profile and dedicated Infrared Search and Track (IRST) sensors. For years, the lack of a built-in IRST was the big "gotcha" critics used against the Raptor. Now? Lockheed is fixing that with chiseled pods under the wings that let the jet "see" heat signatures without turning on its radar.
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It's about staying invisible while seeing everyone else.
The $85,000 Hour
You want to talk about expensive? Flying this thing is eye-watering. Recent data from late 2025 and early 2026 puts the cost per flight hour anywhere from $68,000 to over $85,000 depending on who’s doing the math.
Why so much?
- The Skin: The stealth coating is delicate. It’s not just paint; it’s a complex chemical layer that absorbs radar waves. After every flight, crews have to meticulously inspect and repair any "zipper" or "scab" in the coating.
- The Engines: The Pratt & Whitney F119s are masterpieces. They allow for "supercruise"—flying faster than the speed of sound without using fuel-guzzling afterburners. But they’re also high-strung. The Air Force just dropped $1.5 billion in early 2025 just to keep these engines humming through the next three years.
- Scarcity: Only 195 were ever built. When a part breaks, you can't just call up a massive supply chain. Sometimes, they basically have to hand-craft replacements.
The F-22 Raptor vs. The World: J-20 and Su-57
People always ask: "Could it take a J-20?"
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The Chinese J-20 "Mighty Dragon" is a beast, no doubt. It’s bigger, carries more fuel, and was designed specifically to hunt the tankers and AWACS planes that support American fighters. But in a 2026 context, the Raptor still holds the edge in two areas: raw agility and "low observability" (stealth).
The F-22’s radar cross-section is reportedly around 0.0001 m². To a radar, it looks like a marble. Or a bumblebee. The Russian Su-57 Felon? It’s more like 0.5 m². That’s a huge difference when you're trying to shoot first.
The J-20 is getting better, especially with its newer WS-15 engines, but it still lacks the thrust-vectoring madness that allows the Raptor to pull off those physics-defying maneuvers in a dogfight. Honestly, if a Raptor pilot lets it get to a dogfight, something went wrong—but if it does, the F-22 is still the king of the "merge."
The F-47 and the "Pause"
There was a lot of drama last year about the NGAD (Next Generation Air Dominance) program. The Air Force actually hit the "pause" button on the manned fighter part of the project—which we now know is being developed as the Boeing F-47.
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Secretary Frank Kendall basically said they needed to make sure the price tag didn't bankrupt the service. They want a one-for-one replacement for the Raptor, roughly 185 jets. But until those F-47s start rolling off the line in the 2030s, the F-22 isn't going anywhere.
In fact, the Air Force is fighting Congress to keep the older "Block 20" training jets. They wanted to retire them to save money, but the House basically said, "No way." In an emergency, even a training Raptor is a terrifying opponent.
Actionable Insights for the Tech-Obsessed
If you’re following the evolution of the F-22 Raptor stealth fighter, here’s what to keep an eye on over the next 12 to 18 months:
- Watch the "Mirror" Coatings: You might see photos of Raptors with a weird, metallic, chrome-like skin. This is a new experimental coating designed to scatter infrared (heat) detection. It’s a direct response to the proliferation of IRST sensors on Russian and Chinese jets.
- The Tanker Problem: The Raptor’s biggest weakness is its short legs. It needs gas. Watch for updates on the "stealthy" external tanks. If they can carry more fuel without lighting up radar screens, the F-22 becomes twice as dangerous in the Pacific.
- Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA): The F-22 is being wired to act as a "quarterback" for loyal wingman drones. Instead of one jet, you’ll have one Raptor leading three or four autonomous drones into the fight.
The Raptor was the first 5th-generation fighter. It essentially defined the modern era of air combat. While it's getting grey around the temples, the combination of supercruise, extreme stealth, and those twin-engine F119s means that for anyone flying against it, the F-22 is still the last thing they'll never see.
To track these developments, monitor the Air Force's annual budget justifications (FY2027 requests will be telling) and watch for flight test photos coming out of Edwards Air Force Base, where the newest sensor pods are currently being put through their paces.