Caping this production at 188 planes is idiotic beyond belief. The major cost of these planes is the development stage. As more plane are produced, the overall cost of each plane is reduced. Cutting the production run at 188 planes (or thereabouts) would simply mean each plane cost more to make, and would leave us with a drastic shortfall when push came to shove.
It takes something like a decade or more to bring new planes from the drawing board to reality. If we capped out at 188 planes here, we would be limiting ourselves for more than a decade to come. That would be very unwise IMO.
Doughty, watch your blood pressure (and your spelling). This F22 thingie is only an interim measure to get us to the F35II. Now let's see, we should be able to afford about 6 of those!
That's when we really should get excited. But I am not worried. President Algonquin J. Obama will be able to sweet-talk any potential enemies we might have into instant cooperation. In fact, we won't even need armed forces at all.
Say, I wonder if the CHICOM know the words to "Koom-By-Ah My Lord, Koom-By-Ah?"
Agreed...If the F-15 is replaced by the F-22 in the ANG units that protect the homeland it will require an additional 96 planes, I believe that should be done.