Posted on 04/04/2005 3:24:43 PM PDT by Magnum44
Lockheed F/A-22 wins approval for full-rate output Fri Apr 1, 2005 01:42 PM ET
WASHINGTON, April 1 (Reuters) - Lockheed Martin Corp.'s F/A-22 stealthy fighter jet won approval for full-rate production from a key Pentagon panel this week, although it still faces major budget cuts under the Bush administration's fiscal 2006 budget plan.
The Pentagon's Defense Acquisition Board met on Tuesday and approved the results of a series of initial operational tests of the F/A-22, or "Raptor," clearing Lockheed to accelerate production of the aircraft, sources familiar with the decision said on Friday.
Pentagon spokeswoman Cheryl Irwin confirmed only that the meeting took place, but said a memorandum finalizing any decisions had not yet been approved or signed.
One source familiar with the matter said the move to full-rate production was a sort of "seal of approval" for the aircraft, which can fly at supersonic speeds for prolonged distances.
But the Raptor, developed during the Cold War to replace the F-15E as the country's top air superiority fighter, is due to be scaled back sharply under the administration's future budget plans.
Those plans call for the $71 billion program to be cut by $10.5 billion by through 2011, with the Air Force slated to get just 179 airplanes instead of the 276 currently planned -- and far less than the 381 planes it says it needs.
Air Force officials say they will lobby hard for some of those funds to be reinstated during a once-every-four-years review of major defense programs to start this year.
Lockheed shares were trading 15 cents higher at $61.21 in midday trading on the New York Stock Exchange.
Bank of America said in a note to investors that it expected a "lively debate" over the future of the program once the Quadrennial Defense Review got under way, but said it considered it "unlikely the Air Force will get its way with the Raptor."
Lockheed spokesman Tom Jurkowsky said the Bethesda, Maryland-based company had not yet received the results of the meeting, but said the aircraft performed "magnificently during its recently completed operational test and evaluation."
Proponents view the F/A-22 as vital for maintaining U.S. air superiority in future conflicts, but its costs have escalated and some Pentagon officials have questioned how much the aircraft is needed as U.S. forces confront low-tech enemies in Iraq and elsewhere.
Love that pic. Don't see any heat dispursing apparatus like most of the other stealthy craft. Wonder how they are handling that issue.
Not really sure. My Dad worked on the IR supressors for the Blackhawk a long time ago. He discouraged me from asking any questions about them. If the raptor has them, they're either removed, photoshopped out, or so well disguised that we don't know what we're looking at.
If anyone has any links to F-22 flight videos, I'd love to have them.
I was more thinking about SAMs
At supercruise, the Raptor is into-and-out of the envelope of an SA-7 type weapon before the missile could get a positive lock.
Radar guided SAMs are even less of a threat. The only true threat to the Raptor is the small heat seeker from a MiG, but no Mig should ever be able to get close enough to hit a Raptor without eating 2-3 -120s for lunch.
OK, Gotcha
Thanks Jack, that's a keeper!
I can't for the life of me remember where I found it. There was a thread on Aero-India earlier this year. I think It came through one of those links, but I can't find it again.
Wow! I'll also throw in an "Allahu fubar!"
It is 2005. No practical jet car, no jet pack. Just vicarious ooooohs and ahs from looking at this neat jet.
sigh.
The B-2 and F-117 don't have afterburner engines fitted. The engines exhaust can thus be disrupted/dispersed.
Probably F/B-22 would not make it. You could fly F-117 or B-2 behind F/A-22 and it should do the job with payload and stealthiness. F-35 would also be another option.
the F-117 is much slower than the F/A-22. The FB-22 could sneak in unseen at just under Mach2. Also, due to the supercruise capability, it could cruise at about Mach 1.5 and without using an afterburner, and it can strike targets very fast. I think the point is that this would be a much higher capacity bomber than a F/A-22 while being almost as fast. By being fast, it can be re-targeted based on real time intelligence while that it is still relevant. That way you don't just hit a camel in the butt with a million dollar cruise missle after the intended target has moved to another location.
Can someone come up with both pictures side by side of the F- 22 and the F 23 ? please.
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