Why We Need the F-22

Wall Street Journal ^ | August 9, 2009 | Merrill A. McPeak

[jazusamo]

It’s been more than half a century since American soldiers were killed by hostile aircraft. Let's keep it that way.

The United States relies on the Air Force, and the Air Force has never been the decisive

factor in the history of war.

—Saddam Hussein, before Desert Storm

High-end conventional war is characterized by the clash of industrial forces. It’s armored, mechanized and increasingly air-power centric. Few are equipped by training or temperament to understand the phenomenon, especially as it concerns air warfare, a relatively recent aspect of the human experience. (In this regard, Saddam Hussein had plenty of company.) But the bottom line is that in high-end conventional war, neither our Army nor Navy can be defeated unless someone first defeats our Air Force.

~snip~

In an argument they seem to think makes sense, critics say the aircraft has no worthy opponent—as if we want to create forces that do have peer competitors.

It’s been more than half a century since any American soldier or Marine has been killed, or even wounded, by hostile aircraft, a period roughly coincident with the existence of the Air Force as a separate service. Even during the Korean War—the Air Force’s first engagement wearing new, blue uniforms—enemy air attack was primitive and rare. The main air battle was fought along the Yalu River, just as in Vietnam it was fought over Hanoi, and in Desert Storm, over Baghdad. Our guys on the ground had hard work to do, but when they looked up, they saw only friendly skies.

For the life of me, I can’t understand why we should wish to change this.

[jazusamo]

I believe McPeak states this well.

[jazusamo]

Please bump the Freepathon and donate if you haven’t done so!

[SeeSharp]

Didn’t he support Obama?

[jazusamo]

Ping!

[The Sons of Liberty]

That money is needed so San Fran Nan and her cronies don't have to rub elbows with the "common folk" -they NEED their flying throne rooms.

/sarc

[stormer]

The United States Air Force however, disagrees.

[jazusamo]

Yes he did and I believe this is the only thing I’ve agreed with him on.

[JRios1968]

I believe McPeak states this well.

Soon he too will be thrown under 0bambi's bus.

FWIW, a broken clock is right every now and then, and Merrill McPeak is not just an 0bambi supporter, but also a main reason for a lot of what's been wrong with the Air Force in recent years.

[jazusamo]

Top General Warns Against Ending F-22 Fighter

[jazusamo]

I agree.

[luckybogey]

McPeak is an ass, however he get’s this right...

http://luckybogey.wordpress.com/2009/07/14/america%E2%80%99s-two-air-forces/

[PanzerKardinal]

Gen. Erwin Rommel in a letter to his wife dated just 4 days after the D-Day Invasion.

10 June 1944

Dearest Lu,

... It is a hard fight that the army is having to withstand. I was up at the front yesterday and am going again to-day. The enemy’s air superiority has a very grave effect on our movements. There’s simply no answer to il. It’s quite likely to start at other places soon. However, we do what we can.

“The Rommel Papers” by Erwin Rommel, Basil Henry Liddel Hart Pg. 491

[jazusamo]

Thanks, good link. I’ll read it later.

[frposty]

Author says the F-22 is stealthy, etc., but he doesn’t explain specifically how it will improve our fighting ability. Therefore the article is not helpful to me.

[jazusamo]

Click the link at post #9.

[Jet Jaguar]

BTTT

[starlifter]

McPeak is a horses-a$$ who did his level best to turn the USAF into a fighter pilot flying club. Thank God he is gone...gone...gone.

[A.A. Cunningham]

It’s been more than half a century since American soldiers(sic) were killed by hostile aircraft.

Technically correct ala Slick Willie defining "is" but the dead sailors killed aboard the Liberty or the Stark would disagree, McPuke.

[Mr Rogers]

McPeak is a horse’s butt, but he probably assumed some minimal competence in those reading. Use your imagination, and you’ll come up with something.

[Kitanis]

"McPeak is a horses-a$$ who did his level best to turn the USAF into a fighter pilot flying club. Thank God he is gone...gone...gone."

I would Never defend him.. he was a pain the butt when he was PACAF commander... and his sudden elevation to Chief of Staff after the the General Dugan incident during Desert Shield caused allot of "wakes" in Korea.

Then when he started to tweak his changes after Desert Storm.. OMG.. So I dislike the General.. and if I met him around here in the Portland, OR area.. I would turn away immediately. He helped Clinton turn the USAF into a "nation building pizza delivery force" with all the humanitarian missions in the 1990's.

But He is right.. the F-22 is stealthy compared to any other aircraft in the inventory. (The F-117 is now in mothballs). It is more agile than any aircraft in our inventory. It would give our fighter pilots a edge in any engagement with its weapon system and vector thrust controls as well as being "stealthy" to enemy radars.

Meanwhile our present F-15's are developing problems in their airframes. Remember the problem in about 18% of them that was found when one fell apart in mid-air last year?

The F-16 and F-15's are basically 1974 and 1977 technologies that have been upgraded over the years. Europe is developing their Typhoon's... to replace the 1970 era Tornado's. Russia continues to create new aircraft, even China is experimenting with new airframes.

This country is going to fall behind.. but in this age of Obama and "socialization"... it will continue. McPeak is right.. the F-22 is needed.. the F-35 is needed too..