[Old Teufel Hunden]

"The time to do that is when we have something even better on the drawing board."

From what I've read, they already have it. The F-35. Some version of this will be able to be used by the Air Force, Navy and Marines. In the long run that should make it cheaper for parts, training etc. with all major services using the same fighter plane. Our fighters and bombers will all have stealth technology and the STOVAL model that the Marines and Navy will use, gives it Harrier capability to take off and land vertically. I believe the Marine Corps was never even interested in the F-22 and only wanted the F-35.

In the article, the main defense they gave for keeping the F-22 is jobs. I'm sorry, but that's not a reason for keeping a fighter plane. I want to see it's pluses in regards to performance, not how many jobs depend on it.

[GBA]

You need to do some research on the F-35. It’s not even close to the F-22. The F-22 is a major leap beyond the F-15. The F-35 may or may not be all that much better than the airplanes it is supposed to replace in terms of range, load, agility, etc.

[JamesP81]

From what I've read, they already have it. The F-35.

No. The F-35 is not a replacement for the F-22. The F-35 is a multi-role aircraft, but is intended primarily for air to ground combat. It is not, and will never be, the air superiority aircraft the F-22 is.

[TalonDJ]

From what I've read, they already have it. The F-35.

Just because they look similar if you squint does not mean the F-35 is a replacement for the F-22. They are totally different beast with different requirements. They never were and never have been intended to compete or replace each other. No more than companies stopped flying 737s when the 747 came out. Different planes, different uses.

[PreciousLiberty]

“Our fighters and bombers will all have stealth technology and the STOVAL model that the Marines and Navy will use, gives it Harrier capability to take off and land vertically. I believe the Marine Corps was never even interested in the F-22 and only wanted the F-35.”

The F-35 has mainly frontal stealth, whereas the F-22 is stealthy from all angles. The Raptor has far greater air-to-air capabilities and range, which the Marines don’t need but the Navy could sure use.

The F-22 is intended to be the F-15 to the F-35’s role as the new F-16. We don’t need air superiority fighting the Taliban, but we might well need it against the ChiComs or other modern adversaries. (Hey, if the dollar collapses, all bets are off as to China being our “friend”.)