The retirement of the Raptor, a modern American fighter, is causing disappointment among many observers. It is not uncommon for modern American fighters like the Lockheed Martin F-16 or Boeing F-15 to fly for 40 years or more with upgrades. However, the Air Force seems eager to replace its best fighter, indicating where and how USAF leaders anticipate future wars will unfold, particularly in the vast western Pacific Ocean during a potential Chinese attack on Taiwan.
The US Air Force is optimistic that the warplane being developed to replace the F-22 will be better suited for this type of conflict. The $300-million-a-copy F-22 had a long development process. It originated from the Advanced Tactical Fighter initiative in the 1980s, first flew in demonstrator form in 1990, completed development in 2005, was deployed to Japan in 2006, and production of just 195 planes was finished in 2012. The type engaged in combat for the first time during the air campaign against Islamic State in 2014 and is currently deployed to the Pacific region to deter China as well as Russia.
Despite its advanced design and exceptional performance, the F-22 is essentially a Cold War jet at its core. It was designed by Lockheed to confront the Soviet Union from bases in Europe, so limited endurance was not a major issue. An F-22 can fly only about 600 miles on internal fuel, which is sufficient for combat over Germany and Poland.
