US' super costly affair: F-22s in Europe worth $44,000 per flight hour

[Thunder Bolt]

Countering a non-existent Russian threat to Europe costs a pretty penny but for the United States money does not seem to be an issue. Take the inaugural F-22 deployment to Europe.

US Provokes Russia by Deploying F-22 Jets in Europe - French Military Analyst
The fifth-generation stealth fighter, manufactured by Lockheed Martin, costs some $150 million apiece. But the actual price soars to $350 million if maintenance and repairs costs are included, Germany's N-TV news channel reported citing expert estimates.


Each Raptor is worth some $44,000 per flight hour, the media outlet noted.

Washington has recently sent four of its super modern F-22 fighter jets to Germany to take part in the largest airborne war game in Europe since the end of the Cold War. The deployment, accompanied by a massive charm offensive on social media, will last until mid-September.
The F-22 deployment is part of the $1 billion European Reassurance Initiative, which the US launched in response to the Ukrainian civil war, which the West blames on Russia. The program provides funds for enhanced military drills, the deployment of military equipment and the rotational presence of US forces across Europe.


US and NATO officials claim that these activities are purely defensive in their nature but Moscow and all those wary of Washington and Brussel's increased muscle flexing remain unconvinced.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

The inaugural F-22 deployment to Europe will continue through mid-September for training between US & NATO Allies

Touchdown! #F22s land at #Spangdahlem for 1st ever trng deplymt to Europe

 

[[Bregs]]

Superb bird, looks very stealthy

 

[AMDR]

Its worth every penny of $44,000 to reassure our allies that we will stand by them no matter the cost.

 

[Peaceful Civilian]

Cost is not issue. They continued to sell weapons in war effected countries like Iraq & others. Money is rolling to adjust other expenses.

 

[James David]

Buddy @AMDR , you are also here!??! It is gentlemen, the F-22 Raptor The Worlds Best Fighter Plane!!!! The US will spend 100,000 USD per hour if it needs be!!! To assure our allies and scare the sh*t out of our enemies!!!! GET THE PICTURE!??!

 

[C130]

nothing is too expensive for us

 

[Bratva]

@gambit Wouldn't attaching hard point cause wear and tear to stealth coating and will affect stealth in general ?

 

[SQ8]

Buddy @AMDR , you are also here!??! It is gentlemen, the F-22 Raptor The Worlds Best Fighter Plane!!!! The US will spend 100,000 USD per hour if it needs be!!! To assure our allies and scare the sh*t out of our enemies!!!! GET THE PICTURE!??!

nothing is too expensive for us

Lets not delude ourselves, we do spend way too much on many projects. BUT, if one looks at it pound for pound.. the F-22 costs less than it does to maintain the B-2 vis-a-vis weight.
A lot of that expenditure also comes from the maintenance of stealth and less from the general airframe maintenance which is pretty much on par with what one would expect with a F-15C in its early days.

At the end of it. There is NOTHING out there flying operationally that can take on the F-22, and there is nothing that can stand up to a wing of these.

 

[Spectre]

Lets not delude ourselves, we do spend way too much on many projects. BUT, if one looks at it pound for pound.. the F-22 costs less than it does to maintain the B-2 vis-a-vis weight.
A lot of that expenditure also comes from the maintenance of stealth and less from the general airframe maintenance which is pretty much on par with what one would expect with a F-15C in its early days.

At the end of it. There is NOTHING out there flying operationally that can take on the F-22, and there is nothing that can stand up to a wing of these.

From a strictly amateur perspective; it is my opinion that numbers can matter; pound for pound, squadron against squadron you are right but what about 1:2 odds , considering the primary threat i.e. Russians at which F22s are aimed at.

Sanctions are all well and good but Ukraine fiasco proves France, Germany and UK would not support any military action against Russia in case of further "acquisitions" in eastern Europe and US cannot and will not fight Russia alone in Eastern Europe. So not sure how much of a deterrent effect such symbolic gestures have.

Regards

 

[SQ8]

From a strictly amateur perspective; it is my opinion that numbers can matter; pound for pound, squadron against squadron you are right but what about 1:2 odds , considering the primary threat i.e. Russians at which F22s are aimed at.

Sanctions are all well and good but Ukraine fiasco proves France, Germany and UK would not support any military action against Russia in case of further "acquisitions" in eastern Europe and US cannot and will not fight Russia alone in Eastern Europe. So not sure how much of a deterrent effect such symbolic gestures have.

Regards

The F-22 was aimed at 1:5 odds. The aircraft's LO isnt its only call to fame. It has a radar system surpassed only in sophistication by the F-35 but not in sheer power, Its entire skin is able to pick out electronic emissions beyond any other aircraft, its coordination with other assets is matched only by the F-35.
This aircraft is something that is designed to work together and see the enemy at least two hundred miles and kill them some 50 miles before they can tell its even there hunting them. A four ship of F-22s can essentially hunt some 16 aircraft in total stealth and silence without ever being seen.

And ONLY after somehow, someone manages to slip this net .. are they facing a fighter that can turn tighter and maintain energy better than any western fighter can or any of the Sukhoi class can.

 

[gambit]

@gambit Wouldn't attaching hard point cause wear and tear to stealth coating and will affect stealth in general ?

No, the external stores will not affect any 'stealth' coatings.

The F-22 relies more on shaping than on composites for 'stealth' and those composites are on leading edges. So as far as any damages to 'stealth' goes, the danger comes from gouges created by carelessness such as from boots and tools. For this deployment, even though we do not expect to encounter any opposition air, the F-22s will fly with external stores and enhancers to cover its real RCS.