If USAF and USN are developing an "optionally manned" platform, it would seem the F-35 would be the superior starting point. The F-22 is highly optimized for air-to-air and it seems to me that an "optionally manned" platform would need to be more multi-role with a much greater emphasis on air-to-ground.

Rafale Development vs F22 Development
 

In very broad terms there are similarities between the developmental histories of the Rafale and the F22. In both cases the first requirement was for an air to air fighter for use over the central German plain etc. The timelines are not that dissimilar, both entering service in the early/ mid 2000s.

My point is would the French now wish to build F1 standard Rafales, when the initial squadron's planes are being rebuilt to the latest F3 standard, that is as I understand it is a far more capable aircraft than the Air to Air only F1. I would have thought no.

So is it reasonable to assume that the USAF / US Congress or whoever would want to reopen the F22 line to make the aircraft the same as those that had been made over 10 years ago, I would have thought not.

So IF the F22 line was to reopen I would hope that it reopened building aircraft that has benefited from some of the developments made in the F35 project, RAM Coatings etc, to reduce maintenance costs, SA systems, thinking of Moores Law, that besides improving AtA SA might bring in far more Air to Ground capability.

So IF the line was to open again, it in my view only makes sense to do so with an updated product.

Indeed, PhilipG. Make the most of every development since the last F-22 standard.

It would be an excellent move for capability, but hard to achieve - more's the pitty - because there is a growing potential for an air-to-air capability gap.

The F-22 is an awesome aircraft, similar to the B-2, from a period in US history when cost was not a major concern. There is no way funding will be approved for producing more F-22's. The USAF will continue to purchase F-35's as planned.

so we're going to take an aircraft that was horrendously expensive to start with and then spend a zillion or two "upgrading" it ????

It'll never happen

Short clip of a couple of them in the "Loop", followed by an F-15.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCF1trDfN0A

HH
According to at least one news article on the subject, the last batch of F-22s cost ~$150 million per copy, which would compare rather favorably with what we're spending per copy for the F-35 (especially since the commonly quoted prices for the F-35 don't include the engine :rolleyes:).
However the cost of re-starting the line, along with the inevitable desire to 'upgrade' would likely double the per copy price - and again make it 'unaffordable'. :ugh: