F-22 & F-35

<p>The F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II are the most advanced fighter aircraft of their generation embodying decades of technological ambition political battles and military innovation. This book tells the intertwined story of America's fifth-generation stealth fighters-from their inception and engineering breakthroughs to their combat deployments and global proliferation. The F-22 with its unmatched speed and maneuverability became a symbol of pure air dominance but suffered from a short production run and staggering costs. The F-35 conceived as a versatile multinational fighter reshaped defense cooperation while navigating criticism over expense complexity and sustainment challenges.</p><p></p><p>Through detailed analysis F-22 & F-35: Stealth Software and Sustainment explores the trade-offs of stealth design the evolution of pilot training the challenges of maintenance and readiness and the future of airpower in a networked battlespace. It situates the Raptor and Lightning within the larger arc of global aviation measuring them against rivals like Russia's Su-57 and China's J-20 while drawing lessons for the sixth-generation Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program.</p><p></p><p>Both a technological chronicle and a reflection on defense policy this book captures how the F-22 and F-35 transformed modern air combat-celebrated as marvels of engineering yet also cautionary tales of cost complexity and the politics of procurement.</p>