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.
Seriously, why on earth would we want air superiority?
That’s soooo 20th Century...
Fauxbama is the only guy on the planet who could make Carter look good, and he’s well on his way to accomplishing that.
Last I read the planes were designed to work in concert. The F-35 needs the top cover provided by the F-22 in order to exploit its (the F-35's) full tactical capabilities.
I don't know enough to tell whether that is true or not.
Well this is just wonderful.
Yep. This doesn't bode well for East Hartford, Connecticut-based Pratt & Whitney engines...
The Navy has air superiority and so does the Marines.
The Air Force could return to it’s Army Air Corps days and just test out new models.
Everything the Air Force does the Navy could easily do also. The Navy doesn’t have bombers but could add them aptly and without all the surplus budget.
However, no offense intended to the patriots serving in the U.S. Air Force today and in the past. The future too. The Air Force is way too politically correct and in the tank for BHO to ever be disbanded.
“I wonder if the Libs in Congress would even allow the option of foreign sales of the F-22 to our closest allies as a way to keep the production line operating past 2011? It would be nice to have the capability of scaling up production should we have a future threat, or an administration who actually wants to defend our country.”
The F-22 won’t be sold to anyone. You all need to get caught up here. Not only will it not be sold to other countries - it will now not even be sold to US!!!! And frankly - this bird does not need to be sold to any allies. Who can claim who an ally is anymore?
What morons. Gates needs to be FIRED ASAP.
Help me out if you think I’m wrong.
Congress could keep the F22 production line alive by putting it in next years defense bill. It’s has been done many times before when an administration wanted to kill weapon systems.
Killing two weapons with one shot, 0bama is better than any SAM.
Way too many
By who?
He’s a troll, he has been jumping on every topic looking for a fight. I hope he is dealt with soon, people keep feeding him.
I think it’s been outrun by technology anyway. Much cheaper to go unmanned. Tiny is pretty stealthy, plus who cares if it gets shot down.
Platforms coming up behind it have a ton of advantages for 1/10 of the price tag.
Romantic view of the heroic fighter pilot aside.
A good start would be the entire GOP demanding such from the guy pretending to be CIC.
Why end production unless there is a newer model ready for production. Is that the case?
they nailed the presidential helicopter too..
Lockheed Martin is up a little over $4 currently at ~$71 a share
They have better things to do then do business with big gubamint, and have adapted well to other opportunities and ventures.
The F-22 is the plane it is cracked up to be. We will now have @180 of them. However, the Chinese wil catch us in 3 or 4 years if we stand still. It is sad to see so many Freepers not bothered when these leftist scum hack our military. This is only the beginning.
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