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!
Strategically, this is good for several reasons.
And it will force some level of parts, and likely new Raptor production. Probably even significant upgrades.
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.
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).
I have been assured by FReepers in the know that the F-22 tooling is gone to the scrap yard.
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.
Absolutely not. The F-22 is the pinnacle of American air dominance technology. Allowing that technology to touch anyone else’s hands is a terrible idea.
A cut-down version without the stealth and avionics maybe, but absolutely NOT the whole thing.
I’d say it means the Israeli’s have put the F-35 through it’s paces and determined it’s not enough to defend the skies, and America agrees.
Crank UP production of F-22, slow DOWN production of F-35.
I think it’s a great reason to get the F-22 production line back up to speed (last one was delivered in 2012) and incorporate Israeli ideas and tech into new planes. Concerned, however, about the connections between Israel Aerospace Industries and China. They exist.
While I strongly agree with selling all types Gen 5 fighters to Israel, including the F-22, I would prefer to keep the Raptors for our own use. We don’t have enough of them to support our own Air Force.
Great! Goos for Jerusalem’s defense and And this will lead to restarting production too. USA needs to be producing top level aircraft. The expertise and organizational skills dissipate when factories are shut down. (Even just producing a few very slowly maintains these abilities for America and we can always use a few new planes ).
Both platforms are yesterday’s technologies. I’m not surprised that we would start selling them, as we did with previous generations of fighters when they became mainstream.
Where will the get the F-22s to sell?
Not a Mirage! :-)