Cost concerns over F-22 Raptor modernization plan

The U.S. Air Force expects to invest $9.7 billion into their fleet of F-22 jet fighters to develop and retrofit new capabilities into the complex stealth aircraft, an action the service did not anticipate for the program, putting the Raptor under the congressional microscope.

Fighter aircraft modernization is not new within the Department of Defense (DOD). In fact, the Air Force and Navy have modernized many of their fighter and attack aircraft over the past several decades, like the F-15, F-16 and F/A-18 programs.

These programs each began with the expectation that their aircraft would be upgraded over time, the F-22 did not.

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