Ah, missed the edit window. Just because someone writes it in Wikipedia doesn't make it accurate. The concept of an air superiority fighter really started with

Ah, missed the edit window. Just because someone writes it in Wikipedia doesn't make it accurate. The concept of an air superiority fighter really started with the F-15 Eagle (its contemporary, the F-14 was really a fleet defender designed around the AWG-9 radar and Phoenix missile system). When the F-22 was developed, it was so far ahead of anything that USAF started referring to it as an "air supremacy" fighter that would treat opposing aircraft by "clubbing baby seals." That's how easy it would be for the F-22... The confusion lies in the origins of the F-16. It was intended to be a daylight fighter with only short range missiles and guns, and highly maneuverable. Sprey and clan wanted a cheap fighter that could be built in mass. The life of the Falcon turned out quite different, and despite it being highly maneuverable, it was matched by other aircraft of the time (F/A-18, Fulcrum). Though it is one sexy bird. But most USAF planning viewed the F-16 as a bomb truck (replacing the A-7) that could "swing" to help out in A2A if things got too hot. And eventually the F-16 became quite good at its strike mission, as well as SEAD/DEAD and even CAS once LANTIRN and Litening pods were wide spread. This is the role the F-35 is intended to replace; the view is that NO non-stealthy aircraft can perform these roles in a contested environment with a near-peer opponent. And I think Ukraine is proving this out well...