The National Interest

This Is the Odd-Looking Fighter That Could Have Replaced the F-22 Raptor

Both the Raptor and a fully operational F-23 would have carried eight air-to-air missiles internally—that was the Air Force requirement. Moreover, the operational jets were essentially identically in ...
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Who Designed The F-22 Raptor, And Where Were The Fighter Jets Built?

The F-22 made headlines in July 2025 when the Air Force released its latest budget request, which included $90 million in improvements for the stealth fighter, including infrared defensive systems, ...
The National Interest

There Will Never Be Another Plane Quite Like The F-22 Raptor

The low number of F-22s produced placed the unit cost at an astronomical $350 million per aircraft. But the heavy investment yielded a truly astonishing plane. The F-22 Raptor is likely going to be ...
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Forget the F-22: How Fast Was the YF-23 Black Widow II Stealth Fighter?

Key Points and Summary - The Northrop YF-23 "Black Widow," the prototype that lost to the F-22 Raptor, was an incredibly fast aircraft. -With a top speed of Mach 2.2+ and a supercruise speed of Mach 1 ...