I have never been impressed with the F-22. Being a retired AF officer that is something approaching heresy. Having said that…
We need to field the technology that went into the F-22. If it is a limited, and hence very costly, production run okay. If it is rolling the technology into the current F-15/F-16 force along with a service life extension program that too is okay.
We also need to reduce the developmental time and concepts currently used. The F-22 has been on the drawing boards for a decade plus. Why? The AF insists on designing with one committee, spending money by a second and totally unrelated committee, and building with a third and totally different committee. The result are programs that are over cost, behind schedule, and fields less that required capabilities.
The current system produces paper by the long ton, awards and decorations by the hundreds, and reduces responsibility to ZERO. Any business that attempted to operate the way the AF buys projects would be bankrupt a week after it was incorporated.
Still, lets buy the F-22, about a double Wing’s worth (120 aircraft), so we can wring out the technology and figure out what to do next. This would keep us a generation plus ahead of our nearest future enemy which might be enough for them to think twice before going to war over a “renegade province”.
agree. America faces a stark choice in the coming year. The bills of the entitelment programs need to be paid,and the military should continue to be hable to confront the threats with succes.
The F-22 program was initiated in 1981 to meet the evolving threat posed by the next generation of Soviet aircraft.
The F-22 is good platform to hunt and destroy other aircraft, yet till now our current stable of AA defenses has been able to the job very effectively. In my view, we should continue use our limited resources to build upon our current capabiliets and other more urgent systems and not on a wild goose chase. On plane ment for a bygone era.
/john (yes. it's a trick question) 32653B myself... before everything changed...
You sound like a voice of wisdom.
First I've heard against what I thought was a well placed friend's overhaul of all military procurement procedures. His goal was reducing boondoggles and fraud. Maybe he ended up creating more problems than solutions. Surprising. He was super smart. Super connected.
Name was Musial. Still alive in retirement, as I recall.