: Born from the Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF) program in the 1980s to counter sophisticated Soviet threats.

: The Lockheed YF-22 competed against the Northrop YF-23 and was selected in 1991.

: First flight occurred on September 7, 1997, and it formally entered service in December 2005.

The is a twin-engine, all-weather, fifth-generation stealth fighter aircraft designed primarily for air superiority , but it also possesses ground attack, electronic warfare, and signals intelligence capabilities. It is widely considered the world's premier air dominance fighter due to its unique combination of stealth, speed, agility, and integrated avionics. Development and Production History