But in reality it was a good decision. It is not clear competing nations have a competitive air superiority fighter to the F-15.

The only possible competitor to that platform is the Chinese J-20. In practice against an integrated USAF with F-15 missile trucks and F-35s there still isn’t a near competitive Air Force to the US.

Russia can’t maintain air superiority over Ukraine. They made cool air show demonstrators. Not fighters.

Given the fast pace of innovation and the impact on expensive air systems, the NGAD approach makes much more sense.

NGAD would not exist in a world with a large F-22 infrastructure to maintain and the resulting political force behind it.