Pentagon to end F-22 production

The Hill ^ | April 6, 2009 | Roxana Tiron

[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.

[OA5599]

“Pardon me if this has already been answered but how many F-22s do we presently have on inventory.”

According to this Air Force link with “March 2009” at the bottom, we currently have 134 in inventory:

http://www.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?fsID=199

[gore_sux]

It sounds to me like Obama wants to use the standard tried-and-true Democrat military tactic of the HUMAN WAVE instead of having the advantage of the best technology and the best training. I’m not sure we can compete with the Chinese in that tactic.

Be prepared for the draft if he goes 8 full years.

[Road Warrior ‘04]

Obama and Gates dismantling the military! These two morons are out to kill this country, little by little.

[NautiNurse]

I predict there are going be lots of layoffs soon in Connecticut... probably lots of Obama UNION voters!

Because Chris Dodd has lost favor with The Master, and has been thrown under the bus?

[Arrowhead1952]

Don’t expect a response from the Professor. The VKs got him already.

[Jeff Head]

It's a VERY, VERT impressive and high tech plane. Orders of magnitude better than anything else out there, or that will be out there in the near future.

But, it was developed originally with an ROI for 600-700 planes...which have now been cut back to 183. If the US had ordered as many as were originally slated...the cost would be much lower.

[Darksheare]

Wonder if he forgot which website he was on.

[Candor7]

Sell some F22s to Israel!!!!!!!

[Jeff Head]

BS. It is not only all it was meant to be...it is more. Our own, very, very good pilots in 4th generation fighters (F-15, F-15E, F-16, F-18) cannot touch it and come away blown away by it.

We need more not less...we are not at the end of warfare with nation states. A bunch of people thought the same thing and said the same things in the 20s and 30s, and then came WWII. History is a very stiff and harsh teacher.

[Candor7]

The F-22 is a battlefield air superiority Air Craft. There is nothing like it made by anyone else today. Each A/C can send intel yto on the grouond troops directly. Targets can be assigned froom ground troops directly.

Nothing can out turn the A/C....Nothing.

This is a vast, vast mistake.

6 billion for Acorn and no F22s. Thats hope and change you can coount on.( Barf!)

[Conspiracy Guy]

twit

[PhiKapMom]

My brother works for them and can guarantee without any doubt that he did NOT support ZERO. Their management and union members seem to have been very generous in donating to ZERO.

[darkwing104]

You don't know when and where the next war will be...But fear not! The kitties will be glad to give you a few pointers...

Please let me know if you want ON or OFF my Viking Kitty/ZOT ping list!. . . don't be shy.

[rabscuttle385]

IATZ

[dynachrome]

Perfessor leonide is sleeping with the fishes!

[buccaneer81]

[Arrowhead1952]

>>twit<<

http://www.freerepublic.com/~professorleonide/ = DEAD twit

[metmom]

IATZ.

It’s astounding how busy you guys have been with trolls.

[Former War Criminal]

Right on! There should be no argument on this issue. We are being sidetracked.

If the DOD wants to spent trillions on new catapults to lob hot oil at the Taliban, more power to them.

It's a more noble pursuit than endless social programs.

From a phormer Phantom Pherret.

[paulycy]