Posted on 08/29/2007 10:57:09 AM PDT by CholeraJoe
MARIETTA, Ga., Aug. 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT - News) formally delivered the 100th F-22 Raptor air dominance fighter to the U.S. Air Force in ceremonies here today. The milestone aircraft (Air Force serial number 05-0100) will be assigned to the 90th Fighter Squadron at Elmendorf AFB, Alaska.
"The F-22 is a testament to the skills of engineers and technicians from more than 1,000 companies across America," said Lockheed Martin Executive Vice President and F-22 Program General Manager Larry Lawson. "This delivery marks a significant milestone for the U.S. Air Force and the F-22 program. The Raptor is providing top cover for America and our allies. We have developed the most capable fighter in the world, which is exactly what the men and women defending us deserve."
(Excerpt) Read more at biz.yahoo.com ...
“It is a great fighter, but probably far and away overkill compared to whatever might be its closest competitor any other country has to offer.”
Not really - the F-15 which it’s replacing was becoming increasingly vulnerable to the MIG-31 and similar aircraft. The F-22 should give us at least another 20 years of air superiority. One has to plan for the future, programs like this take many years to produce a product.
“Additionally, it seems that unmanned aircraft is the future.”
Indeed, but there will need to be humans at the scene from a judgement perspective. I could see every F-22 being accompanied by several high performance autonomous ‘shooters’, which could tasked in real time during a mission.
The F-22 is absolutely a necessary program, and one that’s paying off handsomely. F-22s might be some of the first aircraft entering Iranian airspace in the not-so-distant future.
Let us hope.
I got up close to one that was leaving final assembly to go to be painted. It was amazing. The thing that really struck me was the fact that the vertical tail fins are almost identically the same size and shape of the WING of the F-16. It is an incredible plane.
Apparently this is the F-35 competition, not the F-22.
Not even that.
We’re building less than 300 F-22s.
Replacement for MiG-29?
The MiG I-2000, which is being devleoped in a modified version by iran.
Old is New Again for Military Manufacturing
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Related, Iran announced earlier this month that it will begin production on a new line of fighter jets to upgrade the old fleet, much of which dates before the 1979 revolution, AP further reported.
That MIG looks like a Raptorski.
I went googling for “Mig I-2000” and it looks like something Iranian funded, somewhat, Soviet cancelled, mostly, then revived to make for a cheap, exportable, affordable 3d world fighter to compete with the F-35.
MIG indicates they have an F-22 style true 5th generation fighter in development, but nothing built or in the air yet. This is not the MIG 1.42 Raptor Killer (MIG MFI).
Iran seems to be spending themselves into the ground, and the Russians are keen as hell to get out of their 2nd place position building aircraft, so who knows.
Here is a link to someone who is awfully damn sure the Raptor will be toast to whatever the Russians come up with next. This page is about 2 years old.
http://www.worldaffairsboard.com/military-aviation/4576-mig-1-42-mfi-raptor-killer-f-22-slayer.html
Iran hardly has the ability to build or finance a 4th generation aircraft,let alone toy about with a supposed 5th gen. aircraft.Which is why they are still cranking out F-5 clones.
The only 5th generation fighter project which seems to be happening in Russia & is being funded is one being pursued by the Sukhoi design bureau,which may or may not have Indian cooperation.The Mig bureau had a 5th gen design Project 1.44,which actually flew,but has since essentially been wound up.
Vaporware...Yeah, so do I.
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