In response to the possibility of an Iranian attack on Israel, the United States has taken swift action by deploying the fifth-generation fighter jet F-22 “Raptor” to the Middle East. This jet, produced by Lockheed Martin, is the most expensive fighter jet ever manufactured in the world.
The F-22 “Raptor” was the world’s first fifth-generation fighter jet to enter service, and it still maintains a futuristic edge. When the F-22 first took its test flight in the 1990s, it changed the game.
The cost of one F-22 “Raptor” fighter jet is $350 million, and although the price is high, the unmatched capabilities of the F-22 embody the pinnacle of aerial combat technology.
The later F-35 “Lightning II” project by Lockheed Martin, while exceeding the overall manufacturing cost of the F-22 project, the F-22 remains the most expensive fighter jet. Why is the F-22 so costly?
The F-22 fighter jet has an empty weight of 13.6 tons, a maximum takeoff weight of 27 tons, a maximum flight speed of Mach 2.1, and a combat radius of 1500 kilometers. Pentagon officials have stated that the role of the F-22 fighter jet is to “kick down the door” in combat, destroying enemy ground and air defense capabilities to pave the way for other aircraft and branches of the military.
During the design and manufacturing of the F-22, many innovations were incorporated, introducing many concepts that had never been tried before. The aggressive exploration of aircraft design in the production process of the F-22 led to the high development cost.
According to pilot and engineer Patrick Bindner, producing the F-22 fighter jet was “an unprecedented exploration of the future.”
Today, the F-22 is accompanied by the F-35, but at the time, the equipment introduced by the F-22 compared to what the Air Force was using was akin to something out of a Star Wars movie. Building the F-22 required Lockheed Martin’s designers to learn as they went, a costly construction method involving extensive trial and error. But the designers were not constrained by cost.
“It looks like an airplane, but it is the first full-function stealth fighter jet, and at the time, the price was outrageously high,” Bindner wrote.
In the end, it was confirmed that the designers had successfully crafted the F-22. Bindner wrote in 2019 that the F-22 was far ahead of its time. “Twenty-two years later, it not only fully meets its design goals but remains unparalleled in its combat arena.”
The high cost of the F-22 lies in its pioneering aspects.
While the F-22 was not the Air Force’s first stealth aircraft, it was the Air Force’s first stealth fighter jet.
To achieve outstanding stealth performance, the F-22’s radar cross-section had to be reduced while retaining functions as an advanced jet aircraft and flexible combat capabilities.
This state-of-the-art jet aircraft incorporates various stealth features: alignment at the edges of the aircraft, continuous curvature of the surface, internal weapon bays, fixed geometric serpentine inlets, curved blade designs to prevent the engine surfaces and turbines from being seen, and the use of radar-absorbing materials on the exterior of the jet aircraft. All aspects had to be carefully considered, down to the design of the pilot’s helmet to prevent radar reflection.
The designers considered all factors, but integrating all these elements came with a high cost.
To achieve stealth capability, the F-22 utilized carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) materials on the wings, forward fuselage, vertical tail, horizontal tail, and main shaft. These materials, while lightweight and high-strength, contributed to reducing the weight of the aircraft, enhancing its maneuverability and overall performance. However, these specialized materials are costly and require intricate manufacturing processes, ultimately leading to the high cost per aircraft.
Additionally, the complex integration of various components and systems (including advanced sensors and weapons) further drove up production costs.
The F-22 is the third stealth aircraft in the United States, following the F-117 and B-2. Lessons learned from the development of the F-117 and B-2 were applied to the F-22. For instance, the F-22 relied less on radar-absorbing materials compared to the F-117. Unlike the meticulous B-2, the F-22 did not require storage in climate-controlled hangars; instead, it could be maintained on flight lines or in standard hangars.
During the development of the F-22, various setbacks were encountered, leading to price increases. When the production volume of the F-22 was reduced from the estimated 750 aircraft to about 200, the unit cost of each aircraft soared.
A report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) revealed that the total cost of the F-22 project exceeded $67 billion, translating to a cost of around $350 million per aircraft. In comparison, the price of a General Dynamics F-16 fighter jet is approximately $63 million.
In 2012, two Iranian Air Force Su-25 pilots attempted to shoot down a U.S. unmanned drone approximately 16 miles from the Iranian coastline. The U.S. Air Force’s MQ-1 “Predator” unmanned drone is primarily used for reconnaissance and does not pose a threat to any aircraft.
If attacked, the unmanned drone would have difficulty defending itself. Therefore, the Iranian pilots viewed the MQ-1 “Predator” as an easy target. It was reported that the Iranian pilots in Su-25 “Frogfoot” aircraft approached the unmanned drone and opened fire with a 30mm cannon, but were unsuccessful in destroying the drone.
This incident raised alarms in the United States. The Pentagon decided to deploy F-22 “Raptor” or F-18 “Hornet” fighter jets to escort the MQ-1 “Predator” unmanned drone involved in intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions.
On March 12, 2013, two F-22 fighter jets intercepted two Iranian F-4 “Phantom” fighter jets in the international waters of the Persian Gulf. At the time, the Iranian F-4 jets were guided by ground control interception systems (GCI) to engage the MQ-1B “Predator” unmanned drone.
Unbeknownst to the Iranian pilots, Colonel Kevin Sutterfield piloting the F-22 had been monitoring the F-4 jets.
Former Air Force Chief of Staff General Mark Welsh revealed the entire interception process later that year: the F-22 flew beneath the Iranian aircraft, inspected their weapon systems undetected by the Iranians, then maneuvered to their left wing, calling out to the Iranian pilots, “You really should go home.” It was almost a playful taunt.
While Russia currently possesses more advanced fighter jets than the Su-25, no aircraft in the Russian arsenal is absolutely safe around the F-22 “Raptor.”
When publicly discussing the F-22, one thing is clear: people can never fully grasp the aircraft’s capabilities. Due to its high level of classification, unlike the F-35, this further underscores the unique status of the F-22.