What are these more urgently needed defense systems? Our biggest weakness today is lack of actionable intelligence about terrorist threats. Unless you know of some magical new technology to improve our intelligence-gathering capability, I can't think of many systems that are more valuable than the F-22. Based on my non-expert knowledge of UAVs, I think you're overestimating the capability of un-manned aircraft. For example, UAVs cannot engage in a dogfight with an enemy fighter plane or land safely on an aircraft carrier. There are some missions that require the human eye and intelligence to make the right decisions. UAVs do a fine job of surveying the battlefield for ground commanders, but they can't land safely on a tight runway or engage an enemy plane effectively at this time.
As for fighter planes being helpless against surface to air missiles (SAMs), that's not true at this time. Standoff weapons are allowing us to stay farther away from air defense systems and we have well developed counter-measures against SAMs. Please recall that the Iraqis fired the latest Chinese missiles at our planes for ten years and never shot one down.
"For example, UAVs cannot engage in a dogfight with an enemy fighter plane or land safely on an aircraft carrier."
Our curernt fighers can blow things MILES AWAY. We should develop countermeasures for stand off weapons not buy. f-22.
Part of me is beginning to think it's not lack of quality intel.
Supposedly we have capacities to see and hear virtually anywhere anyone knows something is as long as we know what we're looking for.
But what's allowed to be used by whom and reported to whom is beginning to look like a very different matter.