F-22 Fighter Jets Will Be Retired: Why the US Abandons This High-Performance Fighter
Business Insider: The US Gives Up on F-22 "Raptor" Fighter Due to High Maintenance Costs
According to a report by Business Insider's commentator Harrison Cass, the U.S. Air Force will stop deploying the fifth-generation fighter jet F-22 "Raptor" due to its high maintenance costs.
Harrison Cass believes that the F-22 "Raptor" is the most powerful fighter jet ever deployed by the U.S. Air Force. He said that during its years of service, this aircraft has never faced a competitor that could match it.
"However, despite its excellent performance and significant achievements, it is being gradually phased out. This fighter jet, which performed well in gaining air superiority, may be retired before it is tested in real air combat," Cass said.
He also mentioned that the production of the F-22 was stopped in 2012. The U.S. Air Force originally planned to purchase 750 of these aircraft, but only 187 were ultimately produced. At that time, the U.S. cited "high costs" as the reason for stopping further production. Cass pointed out that at that time, the U.S. was busy fighting insurgent forces, and the expensive F-22 fighters could not fully demonstrate their performance advantages in such operations.
In addition, Cass emphasized that with the closure of the F-22 production line, the maintenance cost per aircraft has significantly increased; coupled with the introduction of the more cost-effective F-35 "Lightning II" fighter jet, and the U.S. Department of Defense gradually shifting its military development focus to the drone field, these factors have led to a further reduction in the number of F-22 fighter jets in the U.S. military.
Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7555824229162205732/
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