U.S. Army Apache helicopters, like the one pictured here, have been used to support Iraqi troops in their fight against ISIS. Click through the gallery to see what other military assets the Pentagon has put into the ISIS battle.
U.S. Army Apache helicopters, like the one pictured here, have been used to support Iraqi troops in their fight against ISIS. Click through the gallery to see what other military assets the Pentagon has put into the ISIS battle.
JUNG YEON-JE/AFP/Getty Images
The workhorses of the American fighter fleet, F-16s, have been used in dozens of strikes against ISIS. F-16s can travel 1,500 mph, or Mach 2, at altitude.
The workhorses of the American fighter fleet, F-16s, have been used in dozens of strikes against ISIS. F-16s can travel 1,500 mph, or Mach 2, at altitude.
Master Sgt. Kevin J. Gruenwald/U.S. Air Force/File
A F-15E Strike Eagle from the 391st Fighter Squadron takes off in July during a mission at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Hawaii. The F-15E Strike Eagle can carry more than 23,000 pounds of payload for air-to-ground and air-to-air combat. The plane has been in the Air Force inventory for three decades and is expected to be operational until at least 2035.
A F-15E Strike Eagle from the 391st Fighter Squadron takes off in July during a mission at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Hawaii. The F-15E Strike Eagle can carry more than 23,000 pounds of payload for air-to-ground and air-to-air combat. The plane has been in the Air Force inventory for three decades and is expected to be operational until at least 2035.
Staff Sgt. Alexander Martinez/U.S. Air Force/File
The A-10 Thunderbolt II, also known as the Warthog, joined the fight against ISIS in late 2014. The jets are specially designed for close air support of ground forces.
The A-10 Thunderbolt II, also known as the Warthog, joined the fight against ISIS in late 2014. The jets are specially designed for close air support of ground forces.
U.S. Air Force/FIle
U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptors saw their first combat during strikes on ISIS targets in Syria, the Pentagon said. The single-seat, twin-engine stealth fighter has a top speed of almost 1,500 mph. Here, a Raptor performs during the Australian International Airshow in March 2013.
U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptors saw their first combat during strikes on ISIS targets in Syria, the Pentagon said. The single-seat, twin-engine stealth fighter has a top speed of almost 1,500 mph. Here, a Raptor performs during the Australian International Airshow in March 2013.
AFP/Getty Images
The Air Force's B-1B Lancer bomber was introduced in the 1980s to carry out nuclear missions. The plane was adapted for conventional weapons missions in the 1990s and has flown in combat over Iraq, Kosovo and Afghanistan. Here a B-1B flies above Iraq in support of Operation New Dawn in February 2011.
The Air Force's B-1B Lancer bomber was introduced in the 1980s to carry out nuclear missions. The plane was adapted for conventional weapons missions in the 1990s and has flown in combat over Iraq, Kosovo and Afghanistan. Here a B-1B flies above Iraq in support of Operation New Dawn in February 2011.
Master Sgt. Adrian Cadiz/U.S. Air Force/File
F/A-18 jets and other aircraft used in strikes against ISIS have been launched from Navy carriers, including the the USS George H.W. Bush, a 103,600-ton aircraft carrier seen here in April as it transits the Strait of Hormuz.
F/A-18 jets and other aircraft used in strikes against ISIS have been launched from Navy carriers, including the the USS George H.W. Bush, a 103,600-ton aircraft carrier seen here in April as it transits the Strait of Hormuz.
US Navy/AP
EA-6B Prowlers are among the U.S. aircraft that took off from the USS George H.W. Bush during attacks on ISIS. The Prowler is used to support attack aircraft by jamming enemy radar and communications and obtaining tactical intelligence. Here, a Prowler -- seen at bottom -- flies in formation with an E-2C Hawkeye in June 2004.
EA-6B Prowlers are among the U.S. aircraft that took off from the USS George H.W. Bush during attacks on ISIS. The Prowler is used to support attack aircraft by jamming enemy radar and communications and obtaining tactical intelligence. Here, a Prowler -- seen at bottom -- flies in formation with an E-2C Hawkeye in June 2004.
U.S. Navy/Getty Images
The guided-missile cruiser USS Philippine Sea, operating in international waters in the North Arabian Gulf, launched Tomahawk cruise missiles used against ISIS targets in Syria in some of the initial strikes on ISIS. The ship has a displacement of 9,589 tons and carries a crew of 370.
The guided-missile cruiser USS Philippine Sea, operating in international waters in the North Arabian Gulf, launched Tomahawk cruise missiles used against ISIS targets in Syria in some of the initial strikes on ISIS. The ship has a displacement of 9,589 tons and carries a crew of 370.
U.S. Navy
On September 22, 2014, the United States fired 47 Tomahawk missiles against targets in Syria. Tomahawks are long-range subsonic cruise missiles used to take out high-value or heavily defended land targets. They were first used in Operation Desert Storm in 1991. Here, the U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer USS Barry (DDG 52) launches a Tomahawk cruise missile in 2011.
On September 22, 2014, the United States fired 47 Tomahawk missiles against targets in Syria. Tomahawks are long-range subsonic cruise missiles used to take out high-value or heavily defended land targets. They were first used in Operation Desert Storm in 1991. Here, the U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer USS Barry (DDG 52) launches a Tomahawk cruise missile in 2011.
U.S. Navy/Getty Images
The guided-missile destroyer USS Arleigh Burke, operating in the Red Sea, launched Tomahawk cruise missiles against ISIS targets in the first of three waves of attacks that began on September 22. The ship has a displacement of 8,373 tons and carries a crew of 370. It is part of the U.S. 5th Fleet.
The guided-missile destroyer USS Arleigh Burke, operating in the Red Sea, launched Tomahawk cruise missiles against ISIS targets in the first of three waves of attacks that began on September 22. The ship has a displacement of 8,373 tons and carries a crew of 370. It is part of the U.S. 5th Fleet.
U.S. Navy
U.S. military assets used against ISIS

Story highlights

The F-22 flew its first combat mission against ISIS

The government estimates that each plane costs $412 million

The fighter jet has been plagued by mechanical problems and cost overruns

Washington CNN  — 

The problem-plagued F-22 Raptor took part in its first combat mission Monday night, hitting ISIS targets in Syria. The price tag for those jets, which were in development for decades, is a staggering $412 million each – triple its expected cost, according to the Government Accountability Office (GAO).

Originally designed and built to replace other fighter and ground attack aircraft in the U.S. military’s arsenal, the radar-evading F-22 is an evolutionary dead end. The Air Force acquired only 188 of them from aerospace maker Lockheed and doesn’t plan to have any more produced.

Even though they formally came into service in 2005, the F-22 had been grounded repeatedly because of what were indeterminate causes that resulted in pilots losing consciousness in the air.

f-22 ratpor
Department of Defense
140901-N-TP834-027 PACIFIC OCEAN (Sept. 1, 2014) An F/A-18E Super Hornet from the Sunliners of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 81 taxis onto a catapult prior to launching from the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70). Carl Vinson is underway in the U.S. 3rd Fleet area of responsibility. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class John Philip Wagner, Jr./Released)
140901-N-TP834-027 PACIFIC OCEAN (Sept. 1, 2014) An F/A-18E Super Hornet from the Sunliners of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 81 taxis onto a catapult prior to launching from the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70). Carl Vinson is underway in the U.S. 3rd Fleet area of responsibility. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class John Philip Wagner, Jr./Released)
John Philip Wagner, Jr/U.S. Navy
gallery

Related gallery U.S. military's fighter fleet

Obama: Syria strikes show ‘this is not America’s fight alone’

tsr foreman magic wall isis weapons_00001820.jpg
tsr foreman magic wall isis weapons_00001820.jpg
video

Related video What weapons are U.S. using?

The Air Force is confident it solved the problem, but some top pilots still refused to fly the plane, citing safety concerns.

Today, the Air Force has 187 of the fighters after one crashed in 2010, killing the pilot. A subsequent report by the Pentagon watchdog found the Air Force initially blamed the crash on pilot error when in fact a mechanical error was at fault.

The F-22 has also been accused of causing a mysterious illness in mechanics charged with maintaining it.

In 2012: More problems for F-22

Last year, the Air Force lifted all flight restrictions on the F-22, saying the plane is now safe to fly.

The military’s other prized fighter program, the F-35 fighter-bomber, has faced similar questions about massive cost overruns and mechanical problems.