American air power leaders are eager to replace the F-22, which is less than 30 years after its first deployment, with a new warplane better suited for potential conflicts in the vast western Pacific Ocean. The Air Force has expressed optimism that the replacement fighter will provide the necessary capabilities for future wars, particularly in the face of a potential Chinese attack on Taiwan.

The development of the F-22, known as the Raptor, began in the 1980s as part of the Advanced Tactical Fighter initiative. The type first flew in demonstrator form in 1990 and completed development in 2005 before being deployed to Japan in 2006. Production of just 195 planes was finished in 2012, and it has since engaged in combat against Islamic State and is currently deployed to both the Pacific region and Europe to deter China and Russia, respectively.

Despite its advanced design and exceptional performance, however, the F-22 is essentially a Cold War jet at its core. It was designed by Lockheed to confront Soviet forces from bases in Europe, so limited endurance was not a major concern. An F-22 can only fly about 600 miles on internal fuel, which is sufficient for combat over Germany and Poland but may be insufficient for future conflicts involving long distances or extended operations.