[Long Cut]

I'll start out respectful-like.

NO. The F-15 and F-16 are now over 25 years old each. We now need a new fighter to counter not only current threats (MiG-29, Su-30), but any future air threats. The F-22 is the finest fighter ever designed.

The JTF-35 is a non-starter, and will in all likelihood be killed, as it is too heavy, and cannot be fixed. Unmanned aircraft are nowhere nearly advanced enough to take up the slack.

The US simply MUST remain well ahead of all others, period.

As for the cost, that would be considerably less had Congress not short-sightedly cut the number in the order. Had the aircraft been ordered at the original number of over 700, the unit cost would have been far lower.

The V-22, which you mentioned, is NOT a fighter, it is a cargo and assault aircraft.

[Haro_546]

I said other systems. Air dominance is better insured by better missile/bomb/satellites than by Ultra advance and expensive planes. The chinese only need to buy a high tech missile from the russians to blow up a 235 million dollar aircraft.

[Jorge]

The F-22 is the finest fighter ever designed.

Exactly. And I say the USA should continue to rule the skies.

[forYourChildrenVote4Bush]

Question:

I don't understand?

I thought that both f22 and jtf-35 where in production and that nothing can stop it now????

Are they in Development ? if so when will they be in production?

Who would cancel the project(s)?

What phase will they be in 4 years from now??

[A.A. Cunningham]

The JTF-35 is a non-starter, and will in all likelihood be killed, as it is too heavy, and cannot be fixed.

Don't tell that to the engineers in Fort Worth. They'd like to rub your nose in those 2700 lbs of weight reduction.

[Quix]

Knowing what I know . . .

plus what I have reason to believe

[no will give no sources nor reasons to trust what I say beyond what I write]

. . .

The F22 is archaic. It must be a very expensive boondoggle smoke screen. I have no other explanation.

There must be--off the guessing top of my head 3-12 better platforms either already manufactured and waiting for immediate deployment from bases inside mountains or ready for rapid manufacturing and roll out. Some of those better systems would be at least 10 times better on a list of dimensions.

Remember the SR71 is archaic, too.

[jusduat]

COMPLETELY agree. Plus...we need more big lifters soon.

[superfries]

your comment about JSF being cancelled due to weight is mis-informed. The weight issue was solved months ago and if you cxl JSF what replaces F-16, F-18 and the Harrier?

[Constantine XIII]

Is it true that the F-22 is designed to be able to control armed drones? I seem to remember reading that someplace.