The Demise of the F-22 Raptor: The Story Behind the Story

By now, most of the stories behind the dazzling rise and ignominious demise of a proud, magnificent bird, the F-22 Raptor, have been told.

Stories about the brilliant design and cutting edge manufacturing and assembly technology. A technology that has been described as “the only thing more complex than the human body.” (I was fortunate to visit the “mile-long” Lockheed Martin F-16 assembly line; the F-22 line must be even more spectacular.)

Stories about the awesome performance of the world’s most capable, most powerful and most sophisticated fifth-generation fighter aircraft—but a combat aircraft that has never seem combat.

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