Posted on 09/30/2015 10:53:06 AM PDT by InsidiousMongo
I’m not really up on what planes fly what missions, but could un-mothballing the F-117 help? From reports last week they are still being flown to remain air worthy.
I have not kept up on the F-117, but I have heard stories of them still being flown. They could also be mules for new and more advanced avionics.
Since it’s retirement, I have always had this thought of selling some of them to Israel if we are not going to use them. That would probably get Iran and Saudi Arabia very nervous.....GOOD.
No. That was the F-14.
https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/lockheed-to-preserve-f-22-tooling-for-future-use-345519/
If you want your answer just look at how the F-35 program was structured: B (Marines/RN) first, A (USAF/Export) second & C (Navy) last. The only way to guarantee that the Marines & Royal Navy would get their Harrier successor was to put them at the front of the line. But of corse STOVL is a difficult enginnering task with compromises galore.
Next is the USAF. They have the biggest buy, so they are footing the bill.
Last is the Navy. Their E/F Hornets gave them the least urgency.
So what killed the F-22? The F-35 did. And Lockheed-Martin let it happen.
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