The F-22 Raptor Facts: 30 Things to Know

Some Question Its Usefulness in Small Wars

Seven F-22A Raptors sit outside the 411th Flight Test Squadron Aug. 10, 2016. Four operational jets from three different bases are at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., for testing to help improve the long-term combat capability of the F-22 Raptor.

There is some criticism towards the F-22 and its use potential in “small wars”. Modern combat has been largely characterized by compact, moving targets that the F-22 wasn’t built to zone in on. While it is capable of launching GPS-guided missiles and comes equipped with SAR ground-looking radar, the F-22 Raptor is still heavily lacking in some of the optics and targeting technology found in combat helicopters and even the F-35. Further complicating the issue is its astronomical cost. Military leaders are left wondering whether it even makes sense to use these high dollar aircraft for any type of combat they weren’t specifically designed to dominate, limiting the use of the fleet over its lifetime significantly.