Posted on 11/01/2020 4:10:14 AM PST by PIF
US President Donald Trump’s administration has reportedly approved the sale of advanced F-22 Raptor stealth fighter jets to Israel, Asharq Al-Awsat reported Friday.
The Move said to come as part of efforts to maintain Israel’s qualitative military edge in the region after UAE is all set to get F-35’s from the US.
According to the report, the announcement was made by US Defense Secretary Mark Esper during his recent visit to Israel.
The US government also purportedly gave its nod to the selling of precision-guided munitions to the Israel Defense Forces.
On Tuesday, Haaretz reported that Israel sought to procure F-22 Raptors to maintain its qualitative military edge in the middle east region.
The US reportedly rejected Israel’s previous requests to acquire the Raptors despite showing interest in the aircraft on multiple occasions.
The US government is yet to officially announce the move. As of now, The F-22 cannot be exported under US federal law to protect its stealth technology and classified features.
This is why the America's Doesn't Export the F-22 Raptor. YouTube
(Excerpt) Read more at usadefensenews.com ...
Wow, this is hilarious!
If they can be put back into production, we could use more!
F-22s aren’t being built anymore. Any Israel gets would have to come from the U.S. inventory, and the number the Air Force has is not adequate to its needs.
I like it, but think this maybe should not have come out...
Everyone in the ME (including recent peace signatories), will not like this, and may now work behind the scenes, to undercut the general direction.
This is a good move nevertheless, especially knowing he won’t be POTUS forever!
Does the production line still exist?
Unless production has been continuing secretly, or the line conspicuously maintained, restarting would no doubt result is a new “block X” revision and take several years to do.
I think it is a good idea if it is possible.
For Poland and Japan too.
Strategically, this is good for several reasons.
And it will force some level of parts, and likely new Raptor production. Probably even significant upgrades.
Sounds like a shovel ready job to me..build more, put Americans back to work
“If they can be put back into production, we could use more!”
I have been part of restarting production for weapons that are out of production. It is extremely difficult and expensive. The designs are frozen long before the original production began, meaning that components that were in production when the design was created are often no longer in production when the product is actually being produced. In many ways it is easier to redesign new subsystems than it is to restart, potentially, dozens of production lines at as many companies. The requirement for the weapons system are so tiny that it usually makes no sense for, say, a chip manufacturer to restart an obsolete line. Often, the equipment the chip manufacturer would need is long gone.
I suspect what’s happening here is Trump is offering them a few of the only F22’s produced as we are probably ready with the F22’s replacement.
In any case, maintaining the F22’s is going to be challenging. More so than, say, creating a new plane altogether.
Even if we did give Israel all of the jigs and plans (if they're even still in storage,) it would take more money than Israel has to attempt to restart a production line.
The only way for the U.S. to sell F-22s to Israel is to sell them out of our own stocks, and we have so few aircraft that we can't afford to do that.
The epitome of fake news.
Requires specific approving legislation. When first approved for USAF a specific law enacted prohibitingesd F-22 FMS.
Additionally, FMS software security deletions would cost roughly one billion bucks.
If the law gets changed and Israel can afford it, and normal FMS processes are complete, it can happen.
While the president may approve that dale, he still needs to send congress a 36B notification and Congress has to change the law and then within 30-days act on the 36B notification (not disapprove the sale).
I suspect that Trump will propose a quick start of a new 6th generation fighter for the US, with existing F-22s going to Israel and other allies.
Please see post 12.
Problem would be in the lead-time for parts production - nobody keeps inventory anymore, not even raw materials.
I think the US would like to resume production but would be cost-prohibitive - unless we have a production partner, (hunt, hint).
Please see Post 12.
I have been assured by FReepers in the know that the F-22 tooling is gone to the scrap yard.
Please see Post 12:
A couple more thoughts...
I believe there has remained significant parts production for our Raptors, as I have spoken to folks involved. This includes some advancement. Also, it would take a while, but Israel is not incapable of reproduction, including an advanced
F-22.
Additionally, such a deal likely causes desperation and new calculus of nearly all regional players, especially Turkey, and especially Russia and China.
Turkey, Iran, Syria, Russia, and China will not like this at all.
Very complicated sale—see Post 12.
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