Neil Gould wrote:

I had asked about whether the missions were similar. The F-22 appears to
be a replacement for the F-15/16 in that regard, and in that it is a
Mach 1, all-weather, day/night aircraft, it doesn't look like an F-117
replacement to me at all. I suspect that the F-117's mission was made
obsolete by a combination of other technologies.

Best,

Neil



F117 is an air to ground machine, and first generation stealth
the F22 is both air to air and air to ground.

The F15 was both air to air and later generations had an air to ground
role. F16 was a cheaper lighter multirole machine.

The 117 used laser guided munitions primarily (which require a laser
designator to illuminate the target).

The F22 uses primarily GPS guided munitions (JDAM) for its big bang, AND
can defend itself - has a gun AND sidewinders AND AMRAAM's.

The F22 replaces the F117 and THEN some. And for the price each one
costs, they darn well better.