Some Interesting Tidbits on the Raptor Development Time, 1981-2005 Ouch!

Commentary: Military Spending: Raptor rapture
St. Louis Post-Dispatch 01/16/05
(Copyright 2005)

IN THE LATE 1970s, the world's military aviation community began hearing rumors about a new generation of Soviet fighter planes under development. Rumors had it the new planes not only would challenge McDonnell Douglas' St. Louis-built F-15 Eagle, but also would go faster, turn tighter and fly higher with heavier payloads.

Clearly this wouldn't do. In 1981, the Air Force, along with Lockheed Martin and Boeing, began development of a new air superiority fighter, the F-22 - the Raptor. It takes a long time to develop an airplane. The first Raptors won't be ready for combat until later this year.