Posted on 07/14/2009 12:19:29 PM PDT by WhiteCastle
Without congressional intervention, the Air Force's ability to conduct air superiority missions will be increasingly at risk over the next three decades. President Obama's fiscal year (FY) 2010 defense budget request would stop production of the F-22A Raptor at just 187 aircraft and permanently shut down this production line.In reality, the F-22A program would actually end production at 186 fighters and not 187, because the March 2009 crash of an F-22 at Edwards Air Force Base involved a test aircraft not part of the official program of record. President Obama's decision to cap F-22A production at 186 fighters would in actuality yield only about 127 combat-ready aircraft, because some fighters will also be used for training and testing. This reduced number will also ensure that the aircraft's service life expires more quickly than planned.
(Excerpt) Read more at heritage.org ...
Yes, the Raptor would be the best fighter for Australia. My home country, and island continent, would want to depend on it.
http://www.ausairpower.net/raptor.html
http://www.ausairpower.net/raptor.html
IIRC, it was 1976 when the Eagle entered service with the USAF, and the 555th TFS ‘Triple Nickel’ (TAC was in existence at that time) was the first Eagle-equipped squadron (it currently flies Vipers and is based at Aviano AB, Italy, under USAFE).
Click on the link above and read the article. It’s highly informative.
You’re 100% right, in my opinion.
And along with these articles from Air Power Australia
http://www.ausairpower.net/APA-NOTAM-150208-1.html
http://www.ausairpower.net/jsf.html
It officially entered service in '76, but the test and evaluation was being done at Luke AFB as early as '74. A friend and former co-worker was on the T&E Team at Luke. The year stuck in my head because the F-15 and I entered service the same year.
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