Lead-in fighter jets help up-and-coming pilots bridge the gap between training and being ready for combat, but what makes these aircraft so special?

The U.S. Air Force has flown some of the most iconic aircraft for decades, but there a few fighter jets that stand head-and-shoulders above the rest.

When Lockheed Martin and Boeing developed the F-22 Raptor for the U.S. Air Force, it ushered in a new generation of fighter jets. As the lead aircraft in the 6th generation, the F-22 became the ...