Part 7/9:
Despite its technological superiority, the F-22 has faced criticism regarding its high costs and operational inefficiencies. The plane's expenses are staggering, with operating costs estimated to be around $68,362 per flight hour. Such numbers have fueled public discourse about the value of investing in high-cost military technologies versus addressing other urgent public needs, such as education and healthcare.
Additionally, the F-22 has encountered troubling issues, including incidents of pilots experiencing oxygen deprivation, leading to disorientation and even crashes. These safety concerns resulted in multiple groundings of the fleet while the Air Force worked on corrective measures.