F-22 Raptor

American single-seat, twin-engine, all-weather stealth tactical fighter aircraft built for the United States Air Force (USAF) is the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor. The aircraft was developed as an air superiority fighter but also includes ground assault, electronic warfare, and signals intelligence capabilities as a result of the USAF's Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF) program. Boeing supplied the F-22's wings, aft fuselage, avionics integration, and training systems, while Lockheed Martin, the prime contractor, constructed the majority of the aircraft's airframe and weapon systems and oversaw final assembly.

The plane made its first flight in 1997, and before officially entering service as the F-22A in December 2005, it had multiple designations including F-22 and F/A-22. The USAF views the F-22 as an essential part of its tactical airpower despite its lengthy development and operating challenges. Unprecedented air warfare capabilities are made possible by the fighter's combination of stealth, aerodynamic performance, and mission systems. The USAF had once intended to purchase 750 ATFs altogether. Due to high costs, a lack of air-to-air missions as a result of the program's emphasis on counterinsurgency operations at the time of production, a ban on exports, and the development of the more cost-effective and versatile F-35, the program's goal of 187 operational aircraft was reduced in 2009; the final F-22 was delivered in 2012.

The F-22 Raptor cost $79.2 billion in total, which is reasonable given that it is a cutting-edge stealth fighter. It should therefore come as no surprise to hear that it is equipped with two short-range and six medium-range air-to-air missiles, with the intention of destroying its opponents in the air before they are even aware of its presence. However, it is interesting to note that it carries bombs as well so that it can perform in other missions as well.

Cost: $79.2 billion

Country: United States