Battle lines form over fate of F-22 fighter: Obama vows to veto funds

The Washington Times ^ | July 17, 2009 | Stephen Dinan

[ProtectOurFreedom]

There was an excellent article yesterday that said the F-22 greatly magnifies the F-16’s capabilities. The F-22 provides so large an air superiority advantage that we can depend on older technology to perform as it was originally designed. The argument was that the F-22 effectively breathes new life into the aging fleet of F-16s. I thought this was very persuasive.

[LuxMaker]

All of those in the military or who have served who voted for Zero deserve exactly what they are going to get.

[Pontiac]

This is treason but you know that.

Obama or me?

[Rappini]

Hussien wants the Ruskies and the Chicoms Aviation Technology to catch up to the US.

[too_cool_for_skool]

The USAF is claiming the F-22 has a 150:1 kill ratio in exercises. Even if the real life kill ratio is a fraction of this at 50:1, that means the existing 187 F-22s would match up with 9000 enemy fighters - more than all the fighter jets in the world put together.

Cap the order at 187 and spend the money on developing the 6th generation fighter.

[rlmorel]

Yes. What most people refer to is the Northern Edge exercise in Alaska a few years back, when the F22 first took part, detailed in this link:

Aviation Week and Space Techology's Article on the F-22 in Northern Edge

What is impressive is that they really still at that point had not realized what a force magnifier the F-22 is, and how best to use it.

[rlmorel]

Well, that may be true. I am making my assumptions on what is good for the country (at least as I see it) and I don’t think Obama has any such intention.

I think he is trying to deliberately destroy this country as we have known it to reshape it in what HE thinks is what it should be.

[Jet Jaguar]

BTTT

The perfect tool to kill the Stimulus II bill.

Add a rider to fund the F-22.

[PIF]

Along those (We are doomed.) lines:
The Coming Age of Obama. A Prediction
As Obama Vows to Change the World, So We Make a Prediction
http://thepoliticallyincorrectfish.com/pif2/?p=544

But “we” are only doomed for a historically short time. We will rise up stronger, better than ever, once the idiots eliminate themselves, as they always do.

[jpsb]

Gate's thinking seems to be that the USA will be fighting terrorists or other low intensity conflicts and not first world nations. Ergo, the F22, which is a very expensive air superiority weapon is unnessccesry. If he is correct and we have nothing to worry about from Russia, China, Iran, Pakistan, Cuba, North Korea, etc. then cool, cancel the F22. However, IMHO, that is a very dangerious gamble and there will be no substitute for the F22 should we find ourselves in need of it. Think of Germany, late 1944 and the Mesurmit (jet fighter)