F-22 Grounded: U.S. Military Shifts Focus to F-35 and Drones in Surprise Decision

F-22 Excluded from Advanced Software Update
F-22’s Role in Future Power Diminishing
F-35 and Drones Are the Future of U.S. Power

F-22 is still considered the most powerful fighter jet in the world. Its maneuverability, armament, radar, and stealth technology have set the bar so high that all other fighter jets, including America’s own F-35, have been designed with the F-22 in mind. However, no other fighter jet has surpassed the F-22’s dominance. Yet, the astronomical cost of all these features was enough for the U.S. government to abandon the F-22.

Although production of new F-22 aircraft has already ceased, the remaining fleet’s treatment has recently declined. This is due to the F-22 being excluded from the list of aircraft receiving software updates from the U.S. Air Force. Why would the military exclude the F-22, even from software updates? Let’s take a quick look at the reasons.

Excluded from Software Prototype
F-22’s Role Diminishing in U.S. Military’s Future Power

The update is for the U.S. Air Force’s advanced combat management system, ABMS, which enhances data transmission capabilities. However, the F-22 stealth fighter is set to be excluded from the list of aircraft receiving this prototype—the U.S. military plans to install this system in the F-35 fighter jets primarily. The F-22 was initially included but was later removed from the list.

The U.S. military explained that the F-22 will likely play a smaller role in future U.S. power. While there is no doubt that the F-22 is still the world’s most powerful aircraft, its severe over-specification, and its astronomical costs make it entirely out of sync with the future operation of the U.S. Air Force.

Unless Aliens Invade, It’s Pointless
The Future is Drones and Joint Operations

Many experts argue that there is no need to operate a fighter jet with the specifications of the F-22. Unless there is a World War-level conflict or an alien invasion, no other aircraft on Earth can beat the F-22. However, even considering this, the F-22 boasts an astronomical price of about $314 million, including maintenance costs. In contrast, the F-35, which also has superior specifications to other fighter jets, costs approximately $157 million per unit.

The U.S. military appears to be moving away from the strategy of suppressing enemy air power with a single powerful aircraft. Instead, they seem to prefer an approach where each aircraft, while slightly less powerful, can perform various tasks using advanced software technologies, including AI, electronic warfare, and drone operations. While the F-22 is powerful, it is primarily focused on air combat. In contrast, the F-35 is capable of air and ground operations, aligning with this new strategy.

Not Necessarily Strong is Strong

There is no doubt about the specifications of the F-22. The F-22 hailed as a revolution rather than an evolution, cannot be matched by any other fighter jet in history regarding air dominance. However, its powerful performance in the limited area of the sky and the astronomical price that matches it were not attractive even to the U.S. As a result, it seems that the F-22 will gradually be pushed out of the U.S. military’s leading combat aircraft in the long term.