Why can’t America build any new F-22 Raptors?

[rangerrebew]

Why can’t America build any new F-22 Raptors?

Alex Hollings | June 26, 2021

The U.S Air Force has two air superiority fighters in their stable in the F-22 Raptor and F-15 Eagle, but when looking to bolster the fleet with purchases of a new (old) jet for the job, it was the Eagle, not the famed Raptor, to get a second lease on life. That really begs the question: if America can buy new F-15s, a design that’s nearly 50 years old, why isn’t it looking to build new F-22s instead?
 
By most accounting, the F-22 Raptor remains the most capable air superiority fighter on the planet, with its competition in China’s J-20B beginning to shape up and Russia’s Su-57 still lagging a bit behind. The F-22 really is still at the top of its game… but that doesn’t mean building more actually makes good sense.
The F-22 and F-35 are fighters with two very different jobs

While the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter is widely seen as the most technologically advanced fighter in the sky, it was designed as a sort of continuation of the F-16 Fighting Falcon’s multi-purpose architecture, with an emphasis placed on conducting air-to-ground operations. The older F-22 Raptor was intended to serve as a replacement instead for the legendary F-15 Eagle, as the nation’s top-of-the-line dogfighter.

https://www.sandboxx.us/blog/why-cant-america-build-any-new-f-22-raptors/

[rustynail]

America is becoming just a bunch of can'ts

[PeteS in CA]

A. Much original tooling will have to be recreated.

B. Much original documentation will have to be converted into modern formats.

C. Restarting the line will entail allocating space, training people, replacing parts sources who have gone out of business or no longer do mil-spec work, and huge expense.

D. Congress hasn't authorized the project and hasn't authorized the $$.

E. All of the above.