The F22 Raptor Is Losing Its Breath

By Author: dotstan
Total Articles: 39
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The Raptor is undoubtedly an advanced fighter. However, due to four crashes and repeated problems in its development progress and test flights, inquisitive media immediately associate them with its absence in the raid on Libya. Is failure of the oxygen supply the only reason that the Raptor is emergently aborted? Why a U.S. main fighter which is idolized has never been shot down has crashed four times? After losing the $ 11 billion order in India, is U.S. fighter still the best? Another even more radical voice pointed that as a remnant of Cold War, the Raptor is no longer worthy of promotion, and the America has been in a dilemma.

Oxygen supplying failure does threatens pilot's safeness, but in such a complex weapon system, it is after all a non-engagement function, or debugging of a basic aeronautic life support equipment. If the failure caused the crash, of course it is a dear pay far more than normal risk and integrated reliability of the system and risk management must be considered again, as low level failures of a seemingly minor component may result in disasters, which is nowadays common to these complex high-tech ...
... systems: the Concorde crash was caused by debris on the runway, large launch vehicles are destroyed by relay fragments, etc. However, it is not right for this reason to overthrow the advantages and all the existence value of the whole system, or to deny the integrated design and manufacturing standards of the industry.

It is also reported that though prohibited performing routine patrols and trainings, the Raptor can still take off in need of "national security directive tasks", which shows it does have available interim measures, unlike mentioned in rumors.

Moreover, the incident also revealed the most easily overlooked aspect by the public: as the most advanced fighter currently, the Raptor is in a dilemma for an overlong project cycle, partially timeworn basic design, high cost, low yield, together with its "unique" position in international competitions. Meantime, whether in domestic politics, diplomacy, or international public opinion and engineering technology area, it has always been placed under a strong spotlight or even a microscope, thus any micro defects may immediately heat the public, without being compared to any other fighters at a same level objectively technically, however.

For example, F22 is not good at ground attack and cannot share its data link with other models, actually for its special design position, core mission, operational mode, stealth feature, financial constraints and other factors.

The versatility of modern fighters is completed in phases, according to budget and needs, such as the European "Typhoon". It is farfetched to judge the Raptor by "whether participate in the air strike on Libyan or not". As the first and only 4th generation fighter, it's OK having four crashed since its first flight in 1990.

At the same time, the United States has always been sharply criticized on controversial projects. Secretary Robert Gates has said "there is no place for the Raptor in the war on terror", eager to balance the budgets, and categorically cut orders or derivations of the Raptor.
However, if pursuant completely give up the Raptor project, as some media's carefree report, critics in the States may complain incessantly.

Objectively, the Raptor is far from perfect and smooth, and you don't have to tout it. But it's surely already established a standard in the most front. Counter it or follow it, but don't belittle it in an inertial one-sided thinking for it does no good to promote the progress of any work.

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