Summary
- 16 F-22 crashes recorded, around 5 total write-offs, representing 2.5% loss.
- Around a third are used for training leaving only around 120 combat F-22s.
- High costs, low production, make F-22 crashes painful; replacement not an option.
As recently as May 2024, an F-22 Raptor was reportedly involved in a ‘mishap’ crashing at the airport in Savannah. But how many F-22s have crashed or been damaged over their careers? 16 crashes (most did not result in the destruction of the aircraft) have been recorded while the F-22 has been in US Air Force service. Around five Raptors have been total write-offs.
The F-22 Raptor is the world’s most advanced dedicated air superiority fighter jet, operated only by the US Air Force. But as with all fighter jets, they sometimes crash. The high cost of the fighter jet and the relatively low production numbers make each crash somewhat painful for the Air Force. As they are out of production, they can not be replaced.
How many F-22 incidents have there been?
The Aviation Safety Network lists 17 F-22 Raptor crashes (although not all of these were write-offs). One of these accidents occurred in 1992 during development and was operated by Lockheed Martin – meaning that 16 crashes are known during US Air Force service.
Photo: USAF
Accident date: |
Note: |
Accident date: |
Note: |
---|---|---|---|
April 25, 1992 |
experimental YF-22 operated by Lockheed |
October 10, 2018 |
F-22A at Tyndall AFB |
September 28, 2004 |
write off |
October 11, 2018 |
F-22A in Alaska of 3rd Wing |
March 25, 2009 |
F-22A – one fatality |
May 15, 2020 |
F-35A of 43rd FS, 325th FW, written off |
November 16, 2010 |
F-22A – one fatality crashed in Alaska |
March 15, 2021 |
incident at Eglin Air Force Base |
May 31, 2012 |
F-22A damaged at Tyndall AFB, Florida |
March 22, 2022 |
F-22A incident at Eglin Air Force Base |
November 15, 2012 |
F-22A at Tyndall AFB, write-off |
April 11, 2024 |
F-22A at Kadena Air Base in Japan |
January 14, 2015 |
damaged at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam |
May 6, 2024 |
F-22A at Savanah, Georgia |
April 12, 2018 |
F-22A lost in flight over Florida |
June 7, 2024 |
F-22A at Kadena Air Base in Japan |
April 13, 2018 |
belonged to the 90th FSqn |
With around 2.5% of F-22s irretrievably lost from crashes, this isn’t too bad and is far from being the most dangerous aircraft in the US military. India, by contrast, has lost around 400 (or 50%) of its MiG-21s to crashes over the years. Recently, it was announced a B-1 Spirit would not be returned to service following an accident. That means 9% (or 2 out of 21) B-2 Spirits have been lost to accidents.
No F-22s have been lost in combat. In fact, the F-22s have not seen much combat at all. The F-22s are designed for air superiority, so they are mostly designed to be used in peer or near-peer wars. The only combat air-to-air kill the F-22 has is to pop a spy balloon in 2023.
Photo: Mike Mareen | Shutterstock
They do have air-to-ground strike abilities and have conducted air-to-ground missions bombing ISIS and other targets in the Middle East between 2014 and 2018. Most notably, they participated in defeating a Russian Wagner Group mercenary force on February 7, 2018, in Syria. Their main role has often been ISR and deterrence.
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Two pilots killed in F-22 Raptor crashes
In most of the F-22 mishap incidents, no one has been hurt (e.g., in the first Air Force Raptor crash in December 2004, the pilot ejected safely). However, Lockheed Martin test pilot David P. Cooley died in a test flight crash in March 2009. He was killed during ejection by the blunt-force trauma from the aircraft speed. Another pilot called, Captain Jeffrey Haney, died in November 2010.
Photo: USAF
Some of these crashes, such as the one in May 2020, have been total write-offs, while others have only been damaged and later repaired. Some of the crashes have been due to mechanical malfunctions, while others have been due to pilot error.
The incident on takeoff in April 2018 at Fallon, Nevada, left one of the 3rd Wing’s Raptors in critical condition (tail number AF-07-146). According to the Air Force, the jet had to be disassembled and transported away, and it took almost five years to repair it and get it back into the skies.
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How Many F-22s does the Air Force have?
Photo: USAF
Lockheed built 195 F-22s, of which 187 were serial aircraft. With around 5 written off over the years, the Air Force has around 183 F-22s in service (including aircraft damaged in May and June this year). These include at least 32 non-combat Block 20 F-22s that the Air Force has asked Congress for permission to retire. However, Congress once again blocked their retirement, believing they could still be useful in a future conflict. The Air Force says they will never be combat-capable and are only used for training.
F-22 Raptors by the numbers |
|
---|---|
195 |
number produced |
187 |
serial production |
183 |
approx. remaining |
120 |
approx. combat capable aircraft |
32 |
Block 20 jets the Air Force wants to retire |
Photo: USAF
In total, around a third are used for training, leaving the Air Force with a combat force of F-22s, or around 120 aircraft. While this would be a lot for almost any air force in the world, it is quite a low number for the US Air Force. The Air Force relies on these aircraft (alongside F-35s) to give it a ‘first-look, first-shot, first kill’ capability above its rivals until the new NGAD sixth-generation fighter jet enters service around 2030.