Why the F-22 was not an export answer

Why would the United States not simply export the F-22 to allied countries?

Congress barred exports, the production system would have to be restarted, and allies were directed toward the F-35 instead.

The discussion uses the F-22 as a modern example of why a superior weapon does not exist outside political and industrial constraints. Congress prohibited exports, while restarting production would require recovering or rebuilding specialised tooling. The F-35 was deliberately created as the aircraft available to allies, reducing the strategic case for reopening the F-22 line. By the time a successor made export politically acceptable, the older airframe would be less attractive to buyers. Its military advantage cannot be separated from law, production capacity, alliance policy, and technological timing.