All the F-22 bashers around here should reflect a long time on the following quote from USAF Lieutenant General Herbert "Hawk" Carlisle, deputy chief of operations, plans and requirements:
Despite the cost increases and technical glitches expereinced by both F-22 and F-35 programmed, the USAF expects to operate the most capable fighters in the world. While the F-22 is an air-to-air specialist and the F-35 is designed for ground attack, Carlisle said both fighters still have no equal.F-22 production clearly should be restarted as soon as practical, with exports allowed to Japan and Australia. We should also replace some F-35 orders with F-22 orders, since the F-22 is now the less expensive alternative. That cost would continue to drop as more planes are manufactured."The F-22 does better air-to-groud than anybody than the F-35," Carlisle said, "and the F-35 does air-to-air better than anything in the world except the F-22."
Not to mention that the F-22 is already mission-capable!
Also note that the USAF sees a strong air-to-ground role for the F-22.
Sorry.
The F-22 is NOT the less expensive alternative. Unit flyaway costs for the last F-22 was around $180 million, but that did not include the development costs. Adding the development costs over 187 airframes averages out to around $350 million per aircraft average procurement cost.
Uhm, are you implying that I’m an F22 “basher”? Because if you are, you couldn’t possibly be more wrong.
I am simply tired of the persistent and ignorant comparisons between the 2 aircraft and how the F22 is so much better than the F35 “overall”.
Simply, the F35 is the next generation tactical bomb truck with LG and stores capabilities the F22 doesn’t have. The F22 is the top dawg in the air, hands down.
They each have their part to play.