For months now, the Air Force has been openly discussing plans to retire its most potent dogfighter, the F-22 Raptor, in favor of its next air superiority platform in development. And while the exact timeline remains somewhat murky, the fact of the matter remains: The reign of the Raptor is coming to an end. Let's talk about why that is, and what it means for the future of American AirPower. 📱 Follow Sandboxx News on social Twitter: https://twitter.com/sandboxxnews Instagram: https://instagram.com/sandboxxnews Facebook: https://facebook.com/sandboxxnews TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sandboxxnews 📱 Follow Alex Hollings on social Twitter: https://twitter.com/AlexHollings52 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexhollingswrites Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AlexHollingsWrites TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@alexhollings52 Further Reading: YF-23: https://www.sandboxx.us/blog/could-the-yf-23-have-been-better-than-the-f-22/ Why the US can't build more Raptors: https://www.sandboxx.us/blog/why-cant-america-build-any-new-f-22-raptors/ A peak at NGAD? https://www.sandboxx.us/blog/did-lockheed-martin-just-give-us-a-sneak-peek-at-americas-next-stealth-fighter/ F-14 retired before peers: https://www.sandboxx.us/blog/why-did-the-f-14-tomcat-retire-decades-before-its-peers/ NGAD: https://www.sandboxx.us/blog/ngad-fighter/ Citations: Gen. Hinote: https://www.defensenews.com/air/2021/05/13/the-f-22-is-going-away-eventually-but-not-before-the-air-force-gets-comfortable-with-its-successor/ F-22 upgrades: https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/f-22-raptors-future-upgrades-shown-in-art-posted-by-air-force-general F-35 to F-22 data links: https://www.sandboxx.us/blog/valkyrie-ucav-flies-with-f-22-f-35-for-the-first-time-in-data-link-test/