Comment S300 / S400 missle (Score 1) 569
The F22 is needed to counter the S300 / S400 anti-aircraft missile. Once such defenses are down, then the F35 would take over. We are not currently threatened by such a system but the British never thought they'd see the Exocet missile either. We don't know what we might see in North Korea or Iran or some unguessable foe. Syria has this missle air defense.