Finally: the F-22 Raptor destroyed an aerial target for the first time in its history - the aircraft appeared in 1997

A Chinese spy balloon that flew over the United States this week was the first aerial victim of an F-22 Raptor fifth-generation fighter jet. The wait had been more than 25 years since the aircraft went into production.

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An AIM-9X Sidewinder missile was used to destroy the balloon. A KC-135 Stratotanker, a P-8A Poseidon patrol aircraft and a Lockheed HC-130 rescue aircraft were seen near the scene in addition to the F-22 Raptor.

Chinese authorities have already reacted to the destruction of the balloon. The Foreign Ministry has protested the use of force by the United States to attack the object, which was a "civilian unmanned balloon".

China claims that the balloon flew into US territory by accident and that its mission was to carry out meteorological and scientific research. High winds caused it to veer off course and fly into another country.

US authorities said that the balloon was used to monitor US strategic targets. President Joe Biden ordered the balloon to be destroyed immediately on February 1. The military waited for it to fly out to the ocean before shooting it down.

Now back to the F-22 Raptor. It was the first fifth-generation fighter jet. Production began in 1997 and ended 14 years later. In September 2014, the US Air Force used the F-22 for the first time in Syria. The aircraft was also used in Afghanistan, but in both cases its mission was to bomb ground targets.

The cost of the F-22 Raptor development programme was almost $67bn, not including serial production (+$7bn). The fighter is equipped with two Pratt & Whitney F119-PW-100 engines. It has a top speed of 2,410 km/h (Mach 2.25) and a cruising speed of 850 km/h (Mach 0.8).