There is more than one side to this issue.
First, each F-22 costs close to $200,000,000. If we bought some 200 more of these planes, we are talking about $40 Billion to acquire them.
Second, it costs about $45,000 per flight hour for maintainence and operating costs.
Third, we must dig up some $37 Billion to replace our Eisenhower-age in-flight refueling tankers.
Fourth, The F-22 must be hangared indoors because of the anti-radar paint jobs which are really hard to keep up.
Fifth, The defense budget (which presumably includes ongoing wars) is some $600 plus billions which is approximately 15 times that of China, Russia or any other country.
The end of F-22 production was proposed by the Defense Depardment - Secretary Gates.
The US was able to outspend the Soviet Union and eventually bring about its demise. If we spend so much of our GNP on high-dollar toys for the Air Force, why can't this happen to us.
And finally, the F-35 is probably going to be the LAST MANNED FIGHTER.
Already, the services are planning to develop much cheaper unmanned planes. With no concern about pilot safety, performance to these new
drones will make g-forces less significant along with pilot ejection, pressurization and pilot training a whole new world.
Look at what the slow drones are doing in Pakistan. You ain't seen nothing yet.