Despite its formidable capabilities, the F-22 Raptor has been a jet that friends abroad can admire but not acquire. Since its operation, the Raptor has been legally off-limits for export. In 1998, the 105th Congress added a law relating to the F- 22 to the Department of Defense Appropriations Act. Sponsored by Wisconsin’s David R. Obey, section 8103 reads, “None of the funds made available in this Act may be used to approve or license the sale of F-22 advanced tactical fighter to any foreign government.”
The rationale behind such legal restrictions is deeply rooted in national security. Captain Samuel “RaZZ” Larson, F-22 Demo Team Pilot and Commander, eloquently articulated in a 2023 Lockheed Martin interview, “The Raptor was the first fifth-gen fighter operational in the world. It ushered in a new era of air combat.” This unique edge demanded protection, as it embodied extreme capabilities previously unseen by the world.
Reuters notes that it would have cost Japan up to $2.3 billion to create a comparable fighter jet. Such prohibitive costs surely contributed to the desire of other American allies, such as Australia, to obtain F-22s of their own.
Between approximately 2024 and 2028, according to Aviation Week, around $19.5 billion is earmarked for continued development of the Raptor. The F-35 Lightning II has been extensively imported, with Japan being the biggest importer at 147 (between the A and B models). In this way, fifth-generation, versatile U.S. aircraft would be wielded by allies after all. Indeed, the pricey Joint Strike Fighter Project makes it clear that the F-35 always had this approach in mind.
Ultimately, the F-22 Raptor’s career is one of domestic operation and evolution. The Raptor’s legacy is one of national pride, a symbol of American airpower that, due to legal mandate, will remain exclusively within the arsenal of the United States Air Force.
Relevant articles:
– Why The F-22 Raptor Has Never Been Sold To Foreign Countries, SlashGear
– Pentagon ‘Confident’ Mystery F-22 Fighter Problem Solved, go.com
– Why the Air Force Can’t Build Anymore F-22 Raptor Stealth Fighters, nationalinterest.org