Posted on 08/03/2006 7:47:28 PM PDT by radar101
World's most advanced fighter jet currently only in US hands. After House of Representatives lifts ban on its sale, security establishment assesses jet may be offered to Israel
The United States may supply Israel with the most advanced stealth fighter jet in the world – the F22 Raptor – considering the war in Lebanon and the Iranian threat, the Israeli security establishment has assessed.
The US has not yet exported the F22 to any of its allies. Recently, however, the House of Representatives lifted its nine year ban on the sale of the advanced jet outside the United States. No real contacts have yet been made on the matter, but the lifting of the ban on its sale has paved the way for such a deal.
US officials have apparently hinted to Israel lately that as part of American efforts in the international war on the “axis of evil,” the US would offer Israel to buy the stealth fighter.
The F22 Raptor is manufactured by Lockheed Martin. Originally, the US Air Force planned to buy 750 of the jets, but the number dropped first to 350, then to a mere 183. The price of each F22 is roughly USD 150 million. Lockheed Martin wanted to export the plane to American allies, but up until now it was barred by the US government from offering them for sale.
The Israeli Air Force enthusiastically welcomed reports that the stealth jet could come to Israel. The F22 Raptor is the most advanced warplane in the world and is almost undetectable to radar systems. The plane’s stealth is achieved through the combination of its shape, color, composite materials, and various installed systems.
(Excerpt) Read more at ynetnews.com ...
This would be hgh and series. I can't recall the ratio of F-22 to the current crop of fighters, but it is significant.
I hope we don't sell any Raptors to the Saudis...
What Israel really needs is to buy some moothballed B-1s or B-52s.
Enought to really put the scare in Iran and Syria.
GO!! ISRAEL!! GO!!
Fuque the House of Saud!
"The F22 Raptor is the most advanced warplane in the world and is almost undetectable to radar systems."
The $150,000,000.00 question. Is this like "almost" being pregnant?
And they'll SELL IT TO CHINA
right on, and bring back "operation linebacker 2'! worked good in '72 didn't it?
True. Thats what is needed...Scare the $h!t out of 'em.
considering Israel's track record of selling US tech to the ChiComs, I think this is a bad idea. I don't think the F22 should fly for any air force except ours. That's a lot of our tax dollars and hard work flying around. The very definition of superiority fighter means no one else has one.
Don't you think it depends on the ratio?
Is the chance of death in combat ever zero? You got to give the other guy some credit for smarts or luck.
Perhaps a 99 percent of not getting your
wife unexpectedly pregnant vice a 50 percent chance.
I would expect that pilots would welcome the much lesser chance.
That has slipped up and bit them with this conflict. The C802 missile that hit their corvette is ostensibly a Chinese design.
scare nothing, bomb the living hell out of every one of those terrorist mothers until they are vaporized.
Israel needs some mothballed Minutemen.
I agree.
And yet, Jonathon Pollard is still rotting in prison. They should fly him back to Israel in the first plane they sell.
I have such a tremendous respect for Israel (and Jews in general).
These people have, throughout history, been given the Sh*t end of the stick and have still developed a free, modern, productive 21 century society.
In contast to the animals in Iran, sitting on an ocean of oil, and they still stone women to death.
Where are the feminazis when you need them?
Oh, at a hate Bush rally with cindy shehag.
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