The F-22 Raptor holds the distinction of being the most expensive fighter aircraft ever produced. Its astronomical price tag reflects both revolutionary technology and a troubled production history that saw the Air Force receive far fewer aircraft than originally planned.
The Total Program Cost
When you include research and development, the F-22 costs approximately $334 million per aircraft. This figure divides the entire program cost across the 195 aircraft produced. The unit cost alone, which represents manufacturing without R&D amortization, comes to roughly $150 million per jet.
The Air Force originally planned to purchase 750 F-22s. Budget pressures and the end of the Cold War reduced that number first to 381, then to 278, and finally to just 187 operational aircraft. Spreading development costs across fewer jets dramatically increased the per-unit price.
Cost Per Flight Hour
Operating the F-22 costs approximately $70,000 per flight hour. This figure includes fuel, maintenance, and all associated support costs. For comparison, the F-16 costs about $22,000 per hour to operate, making the Raptor more than three times as expensive to fly.
In 2014, the F-22 fleet required over 40 hours of maintenance for every flight hour. The aircraft's stealth coatings, sophisticated avionics, and tight engineering tolerances demand intensive upkeep that drives operational costs higher than any other fighter.
Why So Expensive?
Several factors contribute to the F-22's extreme cost:
- Stealth technology: Radar-absorbing materials and precision manufacturing require expensive processes
- Limited production: Only 195 aircraft built means high fixed costs spread across few units
- Advanced avionics: Integrated sensor fusion and computing systems pushed technological boundaries
- Supercruise capability: The Pratt & Whitney F119 engines required extensive development
- Titanium structure: The F-22 uses more titanium than any previous fighter
Lifecycle Costs
According to Lockheed Martin, each F-22 is designed to last 40 years or more. The Government Accountability Office estimates that maintaining and operating the entire F-22 fleet throughout its lifespan will cost approximately $60 billion.
Despite criticism of its cost, the F-22 remains unmatched in air superiority. No enemy aircraft has ever achieved a simulated kill against an F-22 in training exercises. The aircraft maintains a kill ratio exceeding 100-to-1 against fourth-generation fighters in Red Flag exercises.
Production Ended Too Soon?
Defense Secretary Robert Gates ended F-22 production in 2009, arguing the aircraft was designed for Cold War scenarios that no longer applied. Critics contend this decision was shortsighted as China and Russia have since fielded fifth-generation fighters.
Restarting the production line would cost an estimated $17 billion, with each new aircraft costing over $200 million. The Air Force has ruled out new F-22 production, instead focusing on upgrades to existing aircraft and development of the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program.
Is the F-22 Worth the Cost?
Despite its price tag, the F-22 provides capabilities no other aircraft can match. Its combination of stealth, speed, and situational awareness allows it to control airspace against any adversary. In an era when air superiority cannot be assumed, that capability has no substitute.
Compare the F-22's cost and capabilities to the F-35 Lightning II, or explore why the aircraft earned the Raptor name.
