[Soliton]

I am all for our forces having the latest technology, but this article is obvious BS put out to prevent Chenny from canceling the F-22 project.

[ctonious]

Agreed. As a USAF veteran of highly classified programs - I can guarantee that critical data identifying combat vulnerabilities is never revealed at face value.

[Captainpaintball]

How is this B.S.? Please give 3-5 examples.

[The Big Dog]

Other countries (potential enemies) are acquiring aircraft which are better than anything in the USAF. We can't fly the F-15's forever. They are 25 years old.

Besides, we have already spent billions of dollars on the F-22. It would be a waste if it was just cancelled now.

[StAthanasiustheGreat]

The F-22 Fighter is necessary to the continued dominance of the United States Air Force. The F-15 is from the early 1970s I believe, which means we are using a aircraft nearly 30 years old as our front line fighter, it is necessary to update and field a new fighter that will continue United States Air Superiority. Yes the F-22 is expensive, but the F-22 is necessary, because of its high survivability, stealth systems, top of the line radar and speed/manueverabilty. Trust me, the F-22 is the most important fighter acquisition since the Air Force bought the F-15.

[lavaroise]

This is not BS. from an engineering technology, the SU is far ahead of its much older design and design philosophy F15. In exercises with asian nations, the F15 lost. All performance parameters point to a sheer superiority of the SU. Add to the SU a good radar and good tactics, and it is unbeatable. Even latest generations Eurofighter, Grippen and Rafale do not beat it, airplanes far superior to the F15 and that are touted to exports worldwide to US foes.

When you see that lesser performing non-vectored-thrust German Mig29s now regularly kill German F4s that have superior radar and missiles, you quickly find out that maneuverability is more important than radar and missles. The F15C simply cannot out maneuver older Mig29 or SU27, let alone the modern thrust vector SU30 with improved radar and missles.

In the end, it is a question of statistics. We have to have a superior statistical kill because our foes are far more numerous than we are and can sustain far more losses than we can.