Currently, the United States cannot produce fifth-generation F-22 Raptor fighters, since the corresponding production facilities and supply chains are involved for F-35 Lightning II aircraft, explained Alex Hollings, a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, in the Sandboxx blog.
"As simple as it may sound, the truth is that re-launching the F-22 production line will probably cost as much or even potentially more than developing a completely new and potentially better fighter," the author writes.
The veteran noted that the F-22 Raptor production line has not existed for more than a decade, and the production of another 194 such aircraft will cost $ 50 billion. "This is from $ 206 to $ 216 million per fighter compared to the current price of the F-35, which is about $ 80 million per airframe," Hollings stressed.
According to the author, it would be impractical to build new F-22 Raptors, since, in particular, there is a Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program. Meanwhile, the veteran is confident that the F-22 Raptor is currently the best fifth-generation fighter in the world.
In June, Hollings called the Russian Su-57 the world's worst fifth-generation fighter.
In September 2020, will Roper, occupying the post of procurement assistant Minister of the Military air forces of the United States, said that the Pentagon in secrecy in the framework of the NGAD designed, built and at least once flew the prototype X-plane, which implies, in particular, unmanned or manned aircraft of the new generation, including a sixth-generation fighter jet.
Ivan Potapov