Posted on 04/06/2009 10:52:31 AM PDT by jazusamo
In a blow to Lockheed Martin, the Pentagon has decided to purchase to end funding of the F-22 fighter jet.
The decision by Defense Secretary Robert Gates will rouse widespread opposition in Congress and is likely to bog down the 2010 budget approval process, with F-22 supporters maneuvering to secure more money.
The Pentagon will fund four of the radar-evading stealth fighters in the upcoming 2009 emergency war-spending request, but those additional aircraft will do little to keep the production line in Marietta, Ga., open beyond 2011. Lockheed Martin is the main contractor for the F-22, each of which costs about $140 million.
Gates announced the decision at a press conference on the Defense budget on Monday afternoon.
No money will be requested in the fiscal 2010 budget, congressional and industry sources familiar with the budget briefings told The Hill. Gates has been making calls to the chairmen of the congressional defense committees.
The final F-22 of the 183 currently on order will be delivered at the end of 2011. Building another four would keep the line open for only a few months beyond that end date.
Lockheed Martin and its subcontractors, including Boeing, in recent weeks have stepped up their campaign to keep the production line open. They argue that 25,000 people work directly for the 1,000 suppliers of the F-22 in 44 states, and another 70,000 indirectly owe their jobs to this program.
“Everything the Air Force does the Navy could easily do also. The Navy doesn’t have bombers but could add them aptly and without all the surplus budget.”
So, the Navy bases their bombers....where? Not on carriers idiot! On Land? They need facilities! Then they are AF!!!!
You are so far down the tubes it’s sick! Please, Dear God, don’t vote!!!!
The list of freepers I want to take hunting has grown by one!
Some must sacrifice in order that those brave members of the UAW can continue receiving their pay checks and full benefits...
That's not at all what I've heard - everything that I've heard is that it's currently essentially unbeatable by any other aircraft out there, even when significantly outnumbered.
800 F22’s over decades would only cost 1/10th of the one-shot TARP.
Mind boggling.
Do you think there is enough support in both parties for Congress to keep funding the plane over Gates’ objections?
Yup! After all, Obambi and his minions wanted change and it looks like that'll be part of it. Wish it was sarc.
You know what, we should get a group of freepers to stand outside the gates or across the street over there, with Signs tellin them that.
This is the G-20 leader’s talking. Obama is only too happy to comply. I heard the g-20 is also unhappy with our gun laws..
Yeaterday I’d have argued against it but I have to agree now.
The F-22 manufacturing base spread across 44 states was done intentionally to make it harder for Congress to prematurely kill the program or Obama.
uh...
My son flies an F-15E. They often have gone up against F-22’s in mock dogfights. If they are lucky, they only need three or four of them to find and attempt to attack one F-22 before they are “shot down”.
According to him. the Chinese also have an air-to-air missile that if it is fired at them, their only hope for survival will be the eject lever. It is the bomber and the fighter-bombers that accomplish the lion’s share of the “early” missions, led by the stealth planes that can survive while shooting down enemy fighters that otherwise would destroy our fighter-bombers.
Let’s not get too focused on Obambi here. If the Iranians for example decide to do something “stupid” Obambi will be controlled by events whether he likes it or not.
To you all:
The F-35 is not mission dependent on the F-22 for anything. The F-35 is a smaller F-22 package and even more capable.
They CAN and DO work in concert but are in no way dependent on each other. Uh Humpghggh I’m telling you FACT.
No the F-35 does not need the F-22 to achieve full tactical capabilities. Lets see - I’ve said it 4 times now. I hope it is sinking in.
IMO - we should have built the 800 plus F-22’s to begin with. Combined with the F-35, B-2, F-117 and C-17’s - what on earth more would a country need?
If the GOP doesn’t make this a campaign issue for 2010, then there is no hope left.
Are you listening Mr. Steele??
No replacement, xzins. The F-35 is the closest and it’s no F-22.
I have heard internet rumors that they are thinking about getting rid of the F-22 completely. These are just rumors, but with BHO in the WH, these have ways of coming true. They cite “The expense of maintaining the F-22” as the reason for decommissioning. Also, the F-35 JSF will be scrapped, according to said rumors.
The Russians are building the PAK-FA and the SU-x7, and the Chinese are building the J-xx. We NEED lots of F-22’s and F-35’s to maintain our air superiority.
I predict you will see the F-22 fighter line item in the defense budget even though this administration wants to kill it.
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