The US Air Force is developing plans to scrap 32 fifth-generation F-22 Raptor Block 20 fighters

By: Maksim Panasovskiy | 01.05.2023, 20:07

The US Air Force in early spring made another attempt to obtain permission from the US Congress to decommission 32 fifth-generation F-22 Raptor fighters. Air Combat Command said plans for the decommissioning were already underway.

Here's What We Know

If the US Congress approves the request, the US Air Force will be able to decommission 32 Block 20-level fighters in fiscal year (FY) 2024. Upgrading to Block 35 standard would cost the service $50 million per aircraft. The savings will be invested in the development of a fifth-generation fighter, which will be available in the middle of the next decade.

Secret F-117 Nighthawk stealth attack aircraft, which were decommissioned years ago, are stored in hangars. Once decommissioned, the fifth-generation F-22 Raptor fighters will be used for training at Langley-Eustis, Virginia, before heading to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona.

The military facility is known for the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Repair Group (AMARG). The base houses more than 4,400 aircraft and several dozen spacecraft. The total value of the property is more than $35 billion.

Despite active protection, the Davis-Monthan base often faces thefts. Because of this, AMARG was considering building climate-controlled facilities where fifth-generation fighters and stealth components could be stored.

The disposal of the F-22 Raptor would be the first time that a large number of stealth aircraft would go through this process. Although it should be noted that some of the 32 fifth-generation fighters will remain in museums.

By the way, the disposal of stealth components is a rather delicate issue. Previously, the SSA Air Force has been subjected to legal challenges from contractors and personnel. The reason was that some of the specialists involved in the process of burning stealth material had health problems.

As for the Davis-Monthan base, the decommissioned aircraft here are generally divided into four categories:

  • short-term preservation;
  • long-term preservation;
  • equipment for sale;
  • spare parts donors.

The Combat Aviation Command has said that the F-22 programme office has requested funding for long-term preservation of the F-22. The amount was not specified. Virtually all of the aircraft in this category have returned to service as target drones after 20 years. The only exceptions are the aforementioned F-117s. They are in "flight storage" and may return to service in wartime.

Source: Air & Space Forces Magazine