Which fighter jet do the USA never sell?

The F-22 Raptor: America’s Untouchable Fighter Jet

When it comes to cutting-edge military aircraft, the United States has a history of sharing advanced technology with close allies. From the F-16 to the F-35, American fighter jets have found homes in air forces around the world. But there’s one notable exception: the F-22 Raptor.

Despite its unmatched air superiority and stealth capabilities, the F-22 has never been sold to any foreign nation—even to long-standing partners like the UK, Japan, or Australia. This isn’t an oversight or a matter of price; it’s by strict design. U.S. law explicitly prohibits the export of the Raptor, a decision rooted in national security concerns.

The reasoning is simple: the F-22 remains the most advanced air dominance fighter ever built. Equipped with stealth technology, supercruise ability, and an integrated avionics suite far ahead of its time, it was designed to outclass any adversary in the sky. Letting that technology leave American hands—even in trusted ones—was deemed too great a risk.

While the U.S. ended F-22 production in 2012 after building just 183 units (only 125 of which are operational), the aircraft still forms the backbone of American air superiority. Meanwhile, allies seeking fifth-generation capabilities have been directed toward the F-35, a highly capable but more widely distributed alternative designed with export in mind.

In a world where military alliances often include shared hardware, the F-22 stands apart—not because it’s unwanted, but because it’s too valuable to share. It remains, quite literally, America’s last untouchable fighter jet.