Posted on 02/11/2011 4:18:37 PM PST by ErnstStavroBlofeld
The appearance comes as developments in China have prompted renewed calls to restore production of the top-of-the-line US fighter after it was axed by Defence Secretary Robert Gates in 2009.
The decision, which capped F-22 production at 187 aircraft, has been called into question by the public emergence of China's J-20 and a co-operative program between Russia and China to build a similar aircraft.
For the moment, however, the single-seat, twin-engine Raptor remains the world's only operational fifth-generation fighter.
It boasts stealth technology, speed, agility and long-range capabilities ahead of the Joint Strike Fighter. Australia at one stage considered acquiring the plane but, faced with an initial US reluctance to overturn an export ban and the F-22's steep cost, stuck with the F-35 JSF.
(Excerpt) Read more at theaustralian.com.au ...
However, that did not stop the the Defence Force chief, Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, describing the Raptor as “the most outstanding fighter plane ever built”.
I agree with him
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