The US Congress did not allow the Pentagon to decommission 33 of the oldest fifth-generation fighter F-22 Raptor

We recently wrote that the United States Department of Defense will be able to get rid of 21 A-10 Thunderbolt attack aircraft

II. The Pentagon also wanted to decommission the old F-22 Raptor fighters, but was refused.

What is known

The US Air Force has prepared an ambitiousplan to decommission the aircraft in 2023. However, Congress denied a request to mothball the oldest F-22 Raptor fighters. We are talking about 33 aircraft upgraded to the Block 20 level.

Congress came out strongly in defense of the parkfifth generation fighters. Lawmakers not only denied the request to decommission the aircraft, but also banned any reduction in funding for the F-22 program until at least fiscal year 2026. Arguments that the planes are not combat-ready, and the cost of them will grow to $ 1.8 billion within eight years, seemed to Congress insufficient.

National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)for fiscal year 2023 does not include upgrades to Block 20 fighters. Despite this, Congress wants a plan to upgrade the F-22 Raptor to the Block 30/35 level and a report on possible costs.