Summary and Key Points: During the July 2023 Exercise Cope Thunder in the Philippines, a Philippine FA-50PH light fighter reportedly “downed” a U.S. F-22 Raptor using an infrared-guided AIM-9 missile in a simulation.
-While the F-22 is the world’s premier 5th-generation stealth platform, the encounter occurred in a Within-Visual-Range (WVR) scenario where stealth and Beyond-Visual-Range (BVR) radar advantages are neutralized.
-These exercises often intentionally disadvantage advanced jets to test pilot recovery skills. While a symbolic morale boost for the Philippines, the event highlights that no platform is invulnerable once a “merge” occurs and visual geometry dominates.
Beyond the BVR: Why the F-22 Raptor is Still Vulnerable in a Close-In Merge
A few years ago, a Philippine FA-50 light fighter reportedly scored a simulated “Fox 2” kill against a US F-22 Raptor during Exercise Cope Thunder.
The Philippine Air Force journal called the win a “historic achievement,” alluding to the simulated downing of the world’s greatest air superiority fighter.
The encounter raises an obvious question: how does a light fighter defeat the world’s premier air superiority platform?
Here’s what the encounter means—and does not mean.
LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. – F-22 Raptors from the 1st Fighter Wing sit in position on the runway fduring the Elephant Walk at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, Jan. 31, 2025. The surge was designed to showcase the wing’s operational readiness and its ability to rapidly mobilize airpower. The 1st FW operates F-22 Raptors and T-38 Talons, maintaining combat capabilities that enable the U.S. Air Force to execute missions across the globe. With a focus on air superiority, the 1st FW plays a critical role in defending the nation’s interests. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech Sgt. Matthew Coleman-Foster)
Exercise Cope Thunder
Originally launched in 1976 in the Philippines, and later moved to Alaska (Red Flag Alaska), the exercise returned to the Philippines in 2023.
The purpose of the exercise was to enhance bilateral US-Philippines interoperability and fighter tactics integration while sending a regional deterrence signal.
The event in question, held in July 2023, involved approximately 225 personnel and a mix of U.S. and Philippine aircraft. The engagement scenarios were likely tightly controlled in an environment where training objectives mattered more than scoreboards.
The Aircraft in Question
The F-22 is the world’s best air superiority fighter. The first-ever operational fifth-generation fighter, the F-22 features stealth shaping and coatings, AN/APG-77 AESA radar, supercruise, and thrust vectoring. Designed for first look, first shot, first kill, the F-22 was built to avoid WVR merges whenever possible.
The FA-50PH, derived from the KAI T-50 Golden Eagle, is a supersonic light fighter/trainer. Equipped with a small radar and lacking stealth-shaping, the FA-50 has a limited payload and range compared with the F-22 and operates primarily as a lead-in fighter trainer, light-attack platform, and interceptor for smaller air forces. On paper, the mismatch between the F-22 and FA-50 is extreme, with the former enjoying a heavy advantage.
An F-22 Raptor assigned to the 192nd Fighter Wing, Virginia Air National Guard, Virginia flies over the Georgia coast during an air combat exercise at Sentry Savannah on May 5, 2022. Sentry Savannah is a joint force integrated exercise of fourth- and fifth-generation fighter jets, designed to showcase the Air Force’s air combat readiness in preparation for tomorrow’s fight. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Erica Webster)
Tactical Explanation
The “Fox 2” call indicates an infrared-guided short-range missile (AIM-9) was fired during a within-visual-range (WVR) engagement. In WVR, stealth advantage diminishes, IR signatures matter, and pilot skill and geometry dominate.
Possible factors include scenario constraints limiting F-22 BVR use, ROE specifications, simulated degraded radar conditions, and a training emphasis on defensive setups. Exercises often intentionally disadvantage advanced aircraft, forcing them into merge scenarios to test pilots’ recovery skills. The F-22’s core advantage lies in BVR, not knife-fight merges, so equalizing the encounter may have included a forced merge.
Historical Precedent
The F-22’s “loss” was not without precedent. In 2009, a Mirage 2000 scored a “kill” against an F-22. The Rafale has claimed kills against the F-22, including during a recent exercise encounter over Finland.
The German Eurofighter has defeated the F-22 in WVR during Red Flag 2012. And through the various encounters,s a thread has emerged: close-in engagements; constrained scenarios; training environments. These circumstances degrade the stealth advantage, which is strongest at a distance and less decisive once within the visual envelope. The pattern is consistent and less surprising than it may appear.
Lessons Learned
The tactical takeaway is that modern air combat is BVR-dominant and network-centric. The F-22 ideally shoots before the merge and then disengages. If forced into WVR, thrust vectoring helps, but IR missiles remain lethal.
The FA-50 has advantages in specific contexts, including a smaller profile, high agility at certain speeds, and the potential for surprise. Pilot proficiency is likely a decisive factor post-merger as well.
Strategically, the encounter provided the Philippines with a symbolic morale boost and signaled the growing competence of the Philippine Air Force. This demonstrates increased training realism and interoperability with US forces.
Politically, the event reinforces the U.S.-Philippine alliance and signals regional capabilities amid tensions in the South China Sea. However, the encounter does not imply that the FA-50 is equivalent to the F-22 in real combat. Not even close.
The F-22 remains unmatched in penetration, air dominance, and first-shot advantage. The exercise results only reinforce that no platform is invulnerable and that close-in engagements remain dangerous, no matter what you happen to be flying. For the US, this emphasizes the need to maintain BVR superiority and avoid unnecessary merges.
A U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor performs an aerial demonstration at Davis-Mothan Air Force Base, Ariz. for the 2025 Heritage Flight Training and Certification Course, March 1, 2025. The Heritage Flight Training and Certification Course is an annual event where military and civilian pilots train together to fly in formations to showcase both modern and vintage military aircraft. These flights are often performed at airshows across the country to honor U.S. military aviation history and service members. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Lauren Cobin).
Viral and Misleading
These viral “kill” moments are easily weaponized in the media and are often misleading if stripped of context. Fifth-generation fighters are designed for networked warfare, not dogfighting or airshows. Modern air combat outcomes depend on sensors, data links, AWACS, jamming, etc. A single simulated WVR event does not redefine doctrine or reshuffle the aircraft hierarchy.
While the FA-50 “kill” is a training milestone for the Philippines, it does not constitute evidence of technological parity. It only reinforces the complexity of air combat and the importance of scenario context.
A U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor assigned to the 3rd Wing takes off from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, Nov 21., 2023. The F-22 Raptor is a critical component of the Global Strike Task Force, and is designed to project dominance rapidly and at a great distance to defeat threats. (U.S. Air Force photo by Alejandro Peña)
The F-22 remains the premier air superiority platform, though sometimes, under the worst-case geometry, that’s not enough.
About the Author: Harrison Kass
Harrison Kass is an attorney and journalist covering national security, technology, and politics. Previously, he was a political staffer and candidate, and a US Air Force pilot selectee. He holds a JD from the University of Oregon and a master’s in global journalism and international relations from NYU.
