Posted on 04/06/2009 10:52:31 AM PDT by jazusamo
In a blow to Lockheed Martin, the Pentagon has decided to purchase to end funding of the F-22 fighter jet.
The decision by Defense Secretary Robert Gates will rouse widespread opposition in Congress and is likely to bog down the 2010 budget approval process, with F-22 supporters maneuvering to secure more money.
The Pentagon will fund four of the radar-evading stealth fighters in the upcoming 2009 emergency war-spending request, but those additional aircraft will do little to keep the production line in Marietta, Ga., open beyond 2011. Lockheed Martin is the main contractor for the F-22, each of which costs about $140 million.
Gates announced the decision at a press conference on the Defense budget on Monday afternoon.
No money will be requested in the fiscal 2010 budget, congressional and industry sources familiar with the budget briefings told The Hill. Gates has been making calls to the chairmen of the congressional defense committees.
The final F-22 of the 183 currently on order will be delivered at the end of 2011. Building another four would keep the line open for only a few months beyond that end date.
Lockheed Martin and its subcontractors, including Boeing, in recent weeks have stepped up their campaign to keep the production line open. They argue that 25,000 people work directly for the 1,000 suppliers of the F-22 in 44 states, and another 70,000 indirectly owe their jobs to this program.
“No. The F-35 is not a replacement for the F-22. The F-35 is a multi-role aircraft, but is intended primarily for air to ground combat. It is not, and will never be, the air superiority aircraft the F-22 is.”
Mmmmmm the F-35 is not a replacement is correct. The F-22 has more range and speed - but the missions systems comparison? The F-22’s systems - advanced as they are - is already ‘older’ while still way ahead of everyone else. On the other hand, the F-35’s systems are still being refined as we speak. Its systems capabilities are just ‘bad the bone’ shall we say.
The combo of the two jets just walk all over anything else out there. No question. No argument.
Sadly, it’s because of my service and my time on a joint command staff (for an AF 4 star) and, truthfully, I met a lot of really great people in the Air Force (where my brother served for 24 years so don’t anyone be disrespecting the B-52!) and the other branches too!
What I said earlier stands, but isn’t the complete body of work. I am troubled by the lack of concern the AF has in the field because it costs lives! I know this all too well people.
I’m retired now but miss those days.
And to you present Air Force personnel, it’s okay to sneer at the other services but don’t let it get in the way of safety and please, for crying out loud, think before you launch that missile at an unknown vehicle because it could very well have a fellow patriot in it!
Oh boy, where to begin with this buffet of BS.
First, identify your branch of service and your area of expertise. Which you have consistently refused to do.
You don’t know squat about what you’re talking about.
How many Army guys have been whacked by (Army) friendly fire? How many Marines killed by naval shore bombardment?
I suppose with your logic, that a Marine pilot crashing his aircraft into or onto a carrier deck and killing sailors doesn’t care about sailors?
SZ
Isn’t there a better song to use?
Something like Stuck Mojo’s “I’m an American?”
Guys,
Don’t forget that we’ll have 183 of these F-22’s in our arsenal - which is pretty substantial!
No doubt about it, it made their day.
You missed my point.
Obama:
"Change the name of Pearl Harbor to Yes We Can Harbor and we will never worry again that Pearl Harbor gets attacked".
You may not be able to comprehend this (obviously not), but you would be embarrassing yourself, if you had even a clue or two regarding the issue you are addressing.
This aircraft is a must-have. End of discussion...
“The F-22 is a boondogle.”
...and your ass sucks buttermilk. In fact, by your post, it would appear that you don’t know your ass from a hole in the ground.
IBTZ!
Your drivel has proven one thing to me....you are NOT retired military.
I call bullshit. I think you're a poser, a DU troll, and your posts are digging your own grave.
The price of freedom goes up, just like the price of everything else does. I’ll chalk you up as a person who doesn’t want to pay the price for freedom, and therefore irrelevant.
Much of that build up of US forces in Europe was complete before the Soviet Union had a massive arsenal of nuclear weapons. But I grant that there is a better argument to be made for a strong air force being part of a deterrent, though that’s a more sensible and nuanced argument than claiming we need the F-22 so we can be sure to defeat the Chinese/Russians on the battlefield.
If it ever gets to the point where the two air forces come to blows in the skies, it will be almost certainly too late to prevent all out nuclear war — indeed, most Freepers would probably be agitating for the first strike to be ours.
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