F-22 upgrades in deficit crosshairs

Orlando Sentinel ^ | November 27, 2011 | Richard Burnett

[sukhoi-30mki]

F-22 upgrades in deficit crosshairs

By Richard Burnett, Orlando Sentinel

3:58 PM EST, November 27, 2011

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The deficit-reduction stalemate in Washington has put the Pentagon on a collision course with $500 billion in "automatic" budget cuts over the next 10 years.

But even before last week's failure of Congress' "supercommittee" to find an alternative solution, the Defense Department faced potential cuts of as much as $400 billion over 10 years. Any chance that might trigger some "rush orders" to get a jump on the historic budget ax that's likely to fall?

That question seemed especially relevant last week when the Air Force announced the award of a new contract to Lockheed Martin Corp. for upgrade work on the F-22 Raptor stealth fighter jet.

That's the same F-22 that was terminated two years ago but still lives on in production with a cap of 187 aircraft — about half the original number. It was the first big weapons program ditched by the Obama administration, which argued that the U.S. could afford only one next-generation fighter jet — the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

Although the F-35 has had its share of problems, nothing compares with the woes of the F-22, which have made it the poster child for defense critics. And yet the U.S. is still pouring hundreds of millions of dollars into it.

Budget ax may target F-22

It is not clear exactly how much the latest contract is worth. There was confusion when the military announced that the deal was a "potential $7.4 billion indefinite-delivery/indefinite quantity contract." That turned out to be incorrect; instead, the Air Force

[null and void]

It wouldn't be fair to send our pilots into a fight with superior weapons! </liberal logic>

[GeronL]

So... after we build it we can’t improve it?

[Gene Eric]

Let’s remember, folks, Team Obama’s International Self-Aggrandizement Tour could have funded the manufacturing of one F-22 for each day of the junket.

[Joe 6-pack]

If I were POTUS, it would occur to me that in the event AF1 ever needed a fighter escort, I would want it to be conducted by the top tier fighter aircraft in the world. Apparently this thought has never crossed Obama’s mind because I don’t see him ever settling for anything less.

[denydenydeny]

So...we must cut these F-22 upgrades (which will be done entirely in America) so that we can use the money to create jobs.

/liberal logic.

[Menehune56]

The F-35 may be compromised since Turkey is one of the consortium partners. It’s not a good time to skimp on the F-22 since it’s the countermeasure to the F-35.

[PIF]

More here

F-22s Gobble Up More Billions
http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htairfo/articles/20111126.aspx

[tanknetter]

nothing compares with the woes of the F-22, which have made it the poster child for defense critics.

"Woes" like having a completely unmatched record in counter-air/ACM exercises? Since the F-22 hit the scene, it has been "shot down" in exercises twice. Only twice. And those were "lucky shot" situations with a Super Hornet and a Growler.

[Yo-Yo]

It was the first big weapons program ditched by the Obama administration,

It was ditched by the Bush Administration and Secretary Gates.

The Bush Administration just left open the possibility for the next administration to "un-ditch" it, which they of course did not. Keeping Gates on as SecDef guaranteed that if nothing else.

[Yo-Yo]

Why would the USAF's newest and most capable fighter need upgrading?

This is why: The F-22 Can't Do What?