I am curious what your opinion on the F-22 is! (yes, my entire knowledge of military aviation is derived from Ace Combat)
The F-22 is, on paper, the most advanced fighter aircraft on earth. Technologically, in maneuver, in stealth, in systems nothing- and I do mean nothing- comes close. It is the predominant air superiority aircraft in the world today.
It is also completely unnecessary, overpriced, far too fragile in actual operation, and a waste of money. Outside of ground attack and ELINT information gathering in Syria, it has never seen action in its intended role, its multibillon dollar project’s only “success” being to shoot down a spy balloon. Its contemporary foes are rusty cold-war era soviet fighters, it requires air-controlled hangars to operate abroad, and that money could have gone towards modernizing the F-15 fleet, which is what’s happening now instead of producing other F-22s.
It’s an engineering marvel, but engineering is only one part of what makes a successful program, and in every other aspect, like many modern American military-industrial programs, it is an immense failure.
That has nothing to do with the F-22, but I think it’s important to remember too.