The United States limits the sale of the F-22 to its allies to protect its stealth technology and maintain its air superiority in the face of threats.

The Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor, a fifth-generation fighter jet, is the pinnacle of American military aviation technology. Entering service in 2005, this aircraft excels in stealth, air superiority and versatility. However, despite repeated requests from certain close allies, such as Japan and Australia, the United States categorically refuses to export it. This decision intrigues specialists in the sector, especially since Washington willingly shares other advanced systems, such as the F-35 Lightning II. Why this lockdown on the F-22?

The answer lies in a complex mix of military strategy, technological protection and economic considerations. The F-22 gives the US Air Force a decisive advantage over potential adversaries, particularly Russia and China, which are developing their own stealth fighters. Its technology, the result of decades of research, remains an asset that the United States wishes to keep exclusive. In addition, legal constraints and prohibitive costs complicate any prospect of export. This article explores in detail the technical, strategic and financial reasons for this hesitation, drawing on specific data and concrete examples to enlighten specialists in the field.

The exclusivity of F-22 technology

Unparalleled stealth

The F-22 Raptor is distinguished by its exceptional stealth, a central asset in modern conflicts. Its radar cross-section (RCS) is estimated at 0.0001 square meters, the equivalent of a metal ball, compared to 0.1 square meters for the F-35. This capacity relies on advanced composite materials and a geometry designed to deflect radar waves. The United States has invested heavily in these technologies, with an initial development cost exceeding 66 billion euros (about 70 billion dollars at the time). Exporting the fighter plane could compromise these secrets to rival powers.

The risks of reverse engineering

Transferring the F-22, even to reliable allies, exposes it to leaks. Take the example of Japan, which expressed a keen interest in the aircraft in the 2000s. Despite a strong alliance, Washington fears that subcontractors or incidents, such as a crash, could allow reverse engineering. China, for example, has already analyzed debris from an F-117 shot down in Serbia in 1999 to improve its J-20. With the F-22, the stakes are even higher: its sensors, such as the AN/APG-77 active electronically scanned array radar, remain unmatched and could inspire copies.

Strict legislation

US law reinforces this retention. In 1998, Congress adopted the Obey Amendment, explicitly banning the export of the F-22. This measure was aimed at protecting critical technologies in the face of the growing power of China and Russia. Even if this restriction could be lifted, the process would require a rare political consensus, in a context where mistrust of technology transfers dominates. Thus, the F-22 remains an exclusive tool of the US Air Force, limited to 187 operational units.

An operational advantage to be preserved

Finally, American air superiority depends on the F-22 monopoly. With a maximum speed of Mach 2.25 (2,410 km/h) and the ability to fly supersonic cruise without afterburners, this aircraft outclasses its rivals. Sharing it, even with allies, would dilute this advantage, especially if data were to fall into the wrong hands through cyberattacks or human error.

Economic and industrial constraints

An exorbitant unit cost

The F-22 has a colossal unit price: around 318 million euros (350 million dollars) per aircraft, taking into account inflation since its production. This amount includes research costs, but even without that, manufacturing remains expensive due to its complexity. By way of comparison, the F-35A currently costs around 75 million euros. For an ally like Australia, buying a fleet of 24 F-22s would represent an investment of 7.6 billion euros, excluding maintenance.

A closed production line

Production of the F-22 ended in 2011, with only 195 units built, including 8 prototypes. Reactivating the line at Lockheed Martin would require billions of additional euros. A 2017 study estimated the cost of producing 194 new aircraft at between 9.5 and 19 billion euros, or 49 to 98 million euros per plane just to get the factories up and running again. No ally has the means or the will to finance such an operation, especially with the F-35 available at a lower cost.

Maintenance, a financial drain

Keeping the F-22 operational is expensive: around 60,000 euros per flight hour, compared to 35,000 euros for the F-35. These costs stem from its stealth, which requires special coatings sensitive to weather conditions, and its complex electronic systems. For a country like Israel, accustomed to frequent operations, this would quickly become unsustainable without massive logistical support from the United States, which Washington refuses to consider.

A viable alternative with the F-35

The F-35, although less effective in pure air combat, meets the needs of most allies. With a more affordable cost and active production (more than 900 units delivered to date), it offers sufficient stealth and NATO interoperability. The United States therefore favors this model for its partners, reserving the F-22 for its own forces.

Geopolitics and strategic priorities

A weapon of national deterrence

The F-22 primarily serves American interests. Compared to fighters such as the Russian Su-57 or the Chinese J-20, it guarantees dominance in high-intensity scenarios. In 2023, the US Air Force deployed F-22s in Eastern Europe to counter Russian incursions, demonstrating their key role. Sharing them would reduce this ability to project an exclusive force, essential in areas such as the Pacific or the Middle East.

Allies not considered a priority

All allies are not equal. Japan, for example, sought to acquire the F-22 in the 2000s to counter China, but the United States refused, offering the F-35 instead. This decision reflects a hierarchy: Washington prefers to equip its partners with less sensitive systems, while retaining the F-22 for its own bases in the Asia-Pacific region.

A doctrine of autonomy

Exporting the F-22 would imply logistical and technological dependence of the allies on the United States. However, countries such as the United Kingdom and France are developing their own fighter planes (Tempest, SCAF). Selling the fighter plane would risk holding up these projects, while exposing Washington to criticism if an ally used the F-22 in a controversial conflict.

An evolving threat

Finally, the adversary’s advances influence this reluctance. Chinese low-frequency radars, capable of detecting stealth aircraft at a distance of over 200 km, threaten the supremacy of the F-22. Keeping this aircraft under American control makes it possible to adapt its systems discreetly, without risking premature dissemination in the face of these developments.

Get in touch to live a unique fighter jet experience – we fly in France AND YOU CAN TAKE THE CONTROLS!!!