Defending the F-22

The purpose of this paper is to establish the critical need for the continued development and introduction of the F-22 Raptor as the air superiority fighter for the joint forces of the United States military as they enter the 21st century. Air superiority is the first and primary mission for the air component commander where soldiers, sailors, marines, and airmen are involved in combat. Without it, our forces will be subject to potentially devastating attacks from the air, limiting their ability to attack the enemy at a place and time of their choosing and leaving them vulnerable in their rear echelons. This paper will review military risk, joint and service doctrine, and highlight the emerging threat to our capability to provide air superiority for the joint force commander. It will then define the characteristics, roles, and missions of the F-22 and support its development and introduction into service with a brief comparison to other service options.