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A Timely Jolt For The F-35
The New York Times ^ | February 15, 2010 | Editorial Staff

Posted on 02/16/2010 7:25:22 PM PST by raptor22

Fixing the Pentagon’s dysfunctional procurement system takes more than just killing off anachronistic projects like the now-terminated F-22 jet fighter. It also requires rescuing vitally needed programs from poor military management and private sector cost overruns. That is why we are pleased to see Defense Secretary Robert Gates taking strong steps to revitalize the struggling F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program.

A cost-effective F-35 is critical to the future combat needs of the Air Force, Navy and Marines. The project already is years behind schedule and nearly 50 percent above its originally estimated cost. That is clearly too much, especially with the Pentagon planning to buy almost 2,500 of the planes over the next 25 years. That comes to a total cost of $300 billion — provided nothing else goes wrong.

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; Government
KEYWORDS: airforce; f35; raptor22; savetheraptor; usaf
Consider the source. The F-22 Raptor should never have been killed but rather built in mass quantities, including for export to our allies.
1 posted on 02/16/2010 7:25:22 PM PST by raptor22
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To: raptor22

The F-22 can’t replace the F-18 and Harrier.


2 posted on 02/16/2010 7:29:07 PM PST by omega4179 (jdforsenate.com hunt some rinos 2010)
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To: Jet Jaguar

Pinagaroo.


3 posted on 02/16/2010 7:29:39 PM PST by Army Air Corps (Four fried chickens and a coke)
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To: omega4179

Neither can the F-35.


4 posted on 02/16/2010 7:31:30 PM PST by pfflier
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To: raptor22

The F22 is an exceptional aircraft appropriate for an exceptional nation.

“Anachronistic”??? Yeah, consider the source...

That reminds me, didn’t McCain vote to kill the F22? What says Hayworth regarding the Raptor? My credit card is starting to feel like a contribution to JD...


5 posted on 02/16/2010 7:33:23 PM PST by lowtaxsmallgov (This Administration has absolutely no idea how to grow an economy)
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To: omega4179

We need them all. They all have distinct and necessary missions. The F-22 is supposed to sweep the skies for other aircraft to perform their mission. It is also the only aircraft that can penetrate the air defenses the Russkies are building for Iran, inckluding selling them the S-300.


6 posted on 02/16/2010 7:37:47 PM PST by raptor22 (The truth will set us free)
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To: lowtaxsmallgov

Riddle me this NYT - if the F-22 is “anachronistic” then why do many of our allies want it and why are Russia and the PRC trying to make comparable aircraft?


7 posted on 02/16/2010 7:38:27 PM PST by Army Air Corps (Four fried chickens and a coke)
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To: raptor22

Bring back the F-51


8 posted on 02/16/2010 7:46:03 PM PST by Don Corleone ("Oil the gun..eat the cannolis. Take it to the Mattress.")
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To: raptor22
The Air Force, in particular, will need F-35s to replace the canceled F-22.

F=35 can't replace the F-22. Build F-22 and dump the F=35. F=35 is a POS.

9 posted on 02/16/2010 8:33:59 PM PST by Donald Rumsfeld Fan (Sarah Palin "the Thrilla from Wasilla")
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To: Donald Rumsfeld Fan

//F=35 can’t replace the F-22. Build F-22 and dump the F=35//

Well thats not going to happen of course. The F-35 cant replace the F-22 but it can stand in better than anything else we have. And the F-35 has load carrying capability the F-22 lacked, we will need that capability to fill in when the F16’s, F18’s go to the desert.

And who knows, maybe they already have a derivative of the F-35 that is able to fill in for the F-22, just sayin.


10 posted on 02/16/2010 8:50:10 PM PST by valkyry1
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To: Army Air Corps

BTTT


11 posted on 02/16/2010 9:07:43 PM PST by Jet Jaguar
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To: valkyry1
And the F-35 has load carrying capability the F-22 lacked

That's wrong. The F-35 can carry 18,000 lbs of ordnance total while the F-22 can carry 20,000 lbs of ordnance on four wing pylons and 2000 lbs of bombs internally plus four missiles.

12 posted on 02/16/2010 11:06:33 PM PST by OA5599
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To: OA5599

Well okay, but I think the F-35 has more internal load capacity at 4000lbs.

Anyway that argument is now mute I think, no more F-22’s will be built. We need something to replace our aging air fleets and nothing else has the capabilities of the F-35. Okay I’ll admit it, I think the F-35 a great platform with a lot of room for development.

Anyway I hope we already have the next level of prototypes getting ready. One promising platform is the US Navy X-47B. They are going to start flying it this year if I recall correclty.


13 posted on 02/16/2010 11:17:03 PM PST by valkyry1
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To: valkyry1; All

F-22 or F-35: The Plane Truth http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2444670/posts


14 posted on 02/17/2010 4:49:45 AM PST by raptor22 (The truth will set us free)
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