Is The F-22 Really The World’s Best Fighter Jet Ever Produced?

Since the aircraft’s introduction in the 2000s, the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor has dominated public and professional debate as the unquestioned symbol of American air power and air superiority. Designed during the closing stages of the Cold War and fielded into the early 21st century, the F-22 was originally conceived to outperform everything it might face in the skies. The aircraft features a cutting-edge blend of stealth, speed, and situational awareness, which, alongside the aircraft’s capable munitions systems, helped redefine what a fighter aircraft could be. However, the question that remains is whether this jet can actually be called the world’s best fighter jet. Finding an answer to that question requires significantly more nuance than simply comparing top speed or stealth signatures. The doctrine that led to the aircraft’s development, mission sets, adversary capabilities, sustainability, and position within global geopolitics will all need to be analyzed.