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U.S. Sir Force DFifth Generation Fighter: The F22A Raptor Requirements Retreat
Heritage Foundation ^ | July 13, 2009 | Maclenzie Eaglen and Eric Sayers

Posted on 07/14/2009 12:19:29 PM PDT by WhiteCastle

Without congressional intervention, the Air Force's ability to conduct air superiority missions will be increasingly at risk over the next three decades. President Obama's fiscal year (FY) 2010 defense budget request would stop production of the F-22A Raptor at just 187 aircraft and permanently shut down this production line.In reality, the F-22A program would actually end production at 186 fighters and not 187, because the March 2009 crash of an F-22 at Edwards Air Force Base involved a test aircraft not part of the official program of record. President Obama's decision to cap F-22A production at 186 fighters would in actuality yield only about 127 combat-ready aircraft, because some fighters will also be used for training and testing. This reduced number will also ensure that the aircraft's service life expires more quickly than planned.

(Excerpt) Read more at heritage.org ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: 111th; aerospace; airdominance; airforce; airsuperiority; defense; defensebudget; f22; f35; lockheed; lockheedmartin; raptor; robertgates; usaf
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1 posted on 07/14/2009 12:19:30 PM PDT by WhiteCastle
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To: WhiteCastle

Whats a “US Sir Force”? A collection of gentlemen?


2 posted on 07/14/2009 12:23:18 PM PDT by rahbert ("...but Rush....but Rush...")
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To: WhiteCastle

well 127 combat-ready aircraft sounds not too bad. because
usually you will not need the raptor in combat. no war in sight why you would need them desperate.


3 posted on 07/14/2009 12:23:27 PM PDT by Jonny foreigner
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To: WhiteCastle

So, when will the Obama Yard Sale of the F-22 be?


4 posted on 07/14/2009 12:23:46 PM PDT by SoldierDad (Proud Dad of a U.S. Army Infantry Soldier presently instructing at Ft. Benning.)
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To: WhiteCastle

Related...

http://exposingtheleft.blogspot.com/2009/07/mccain-moves-to-cut-funding-for-f-22.html


5 posted on 07/14/2009 12:27:58 PM PDT by traderrob6
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To: Jonny foreigner

No war in sight?


6 posted on 07/14/2009 12:28:15 PM PDT by NonValueAdded ("I've conquered my goddam willpower." Don Marquis)
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To: WhiteCastle

Copy and paste prevents headlines like this. Please.


7 posted on 07/14/2009 12:28:43 PM PDT by chesty_puller (70-73 USMC VietNam 75-79 US Army Wash DC....VietNam was safer.)
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To: WhiteCastle

If we aren’t going to buy them, then they should sell them to Japan, Israel, Australia (if it wants them), and any firm European ally that wants and can afford them to keep the production line open, not only to help keep the American industry going that produces them but also in case we change our mind later.


8 posted on 07/14/2009 12:30:58 PM PDT by Question_Assumptions
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To: WhiteCastle

Geez what is that 9 squadrons making up 3 Wings? One for each coast and one to share between the Gulf Coast and Alaska. The buy ought to be double or triple the current size.


9 posted on 07/14/2009 12:32:17 PM PDT by thinkthenpost
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To: NonValueAdded

No war in sight?


no war in sight where you would need an air superiority fighter like the raptor.


10 posted on 07/14/2009 12:33:12 PM PDT by Jonny foreigner
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To: Jonny foreigner
no war in sight where you would need an air superiority fighter like the raptor.

REally? You feel there's no possibility of war in the 3-4 year window it would take to make more of these? I wish like hell that was a 100% certain fact, but we all know it's not. I don't like those oddds. Shit changes, and when it does, it happens fast.

11 posted on 07/14/2009 12:35:19 PM PDT by Travis T. OJustice (I can spell just fine, thanks, it's my typing that sucks.)
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To: Travis T. OJustice

I predict Obama will sell the Technology to China in exchange for lowering some tariffs temporarily.


12 posted on 07/14/2009 12:37:43 PM PDT by EQAndyBuzz (Climate change alarmists are Warm-Mongers. Now that's funny right there. I don't care who you are.)
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To: WhiteCastle

Not sure it’s Zero’s call. He needs accomplices. What a shame if he can do it. Billions and years in development and then only 180+ aircraft.

They do realize we’ve ALREADY paid for development? And the less you order, the more expensive they are. LM/Boeing aren’t just gonna eat the production facilities and tooling.

Fools. Bigger fools would also destroy the tooling to show just how foolish they are.


13 posted on 07/14/2009 12:39:07 PM PDT by griffin (Love Jesus, No Fear!)
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To: rahbert
Whats a “US Sir Force”? A collection of gentlemen?

The former U.S. Army Air Corps...which, IMO, it should still be today. We won two big world wars with a U.S. Army Air Corps yet have only tied two (Korea and Vietnam) since (with the outcomes of Iraq and Afghanistan still not settled). The old Army Air Corps had some tough guys in it that liked to fight and knock Zeros, Me-209s, and Focke Wolfes out of the skies...the new service indeed has a lot of men wearing brass so might as well be called a "Sir Force."

14 posted on 07/14/2009 12:40:31 PM PDT by meandog (Doh!)
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To: rahbert
Whats a “US Sir Force”? A collection of gentlemen?

The former U.S. Army Air Corps...which, IMO, it should still be today. We won two big world wars with a U.S. Army Air Corps yet have only tied two (Korea and Vietnam) since (with the outcomes of Iraq and Afghanistan still not settled). The old Army Air Corps had some tough guys in it that liked to fight and knock Zeros, Me-209s, and Focke Wolfes out of the skies...the new service indeed has a lot of men wearing brass so might as well be called a "Sir Force."

15 posted on 07/14/2009 12:40:36 PM PDT by meandog (Doh!)
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To: WhiteCastle

TTIUWOP!


16 posted on 07/14/2009 12:40:51 PM PDT by griffin (Love Jesus, No Fear!)
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To: griffin
Once the production run is over, unless the government pays you to keep the equipment ready why wouldn't you break it down and use the floorspace in your factory for another project or assembly line?
17 posted on 07/14/2009 12:42:23 PM PDT by thinkthenpost
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To: thinkthenpost

You would. Warehouses are made for storing, not production facilities. The government probably owns the tooling, jigs whatnot and dictates how it is to be dispositioned when not in use. Stored, destroyed, etc.


18 posted on 07/14/2009 12:48:05 PM PDT by griffin (Love Jesus, No Fear!)
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To: Jonny foreigner
No war in sight

What planet are you from? Haven't you been paying attention to the North Korean nuclear arms development and long range missile tests. Have you heard that the Russians have resumed Polar bomber missions that had been halted when Reagan was in office? Do you think the Chinese are building subs and carriers so they can come over here and build restaurants? Have you heard the rumors that a nut in Iran who thinks that Israel and the US should be destroyed is close to developing nuclear weapons?

Where are you getting your information? Did you know that we would be at war with Al Queda prior to 9/11?

How much time do you think it would take to produce front line fighters if we were to go to war? A week - two weeks? The lead time to develop tactics and doctrine for the employment of the weapons system and to train pilots would be years. Add that to the time needed to put together a production line, hire and train workers, etc.

19 posted on 07/14/2009 12:51:01 PM PDT by mbynack (Retired USAF SMSgt)
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To: griffin
Makes sense to me, but my understanding is when the DOD stops paying for maintenance. All the machining and such is not just broken down, but broken up if you know what I mean.
20 posted on 07/14/2009 12:55:48 PM PDT by thinkthenpost
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