“To Play The Tsar.”
Posted on 04/06/2009 10:52:31 AM PDT by jazusamo
In a blow to Lockheed Martin, the Pentagon has decided to purchase to end funding of the F-22 fighter jet.
The decision by Defense Secretary Robert Gates will rouse widespread opposition in Congress and is likely to bog down the 2010 budget approval process, with F-22 supporters maneuvering to secure more money.
The Pentagon will fund four of the radar-evading stealth fighters in the upcoming 2009 emergency war-spending request, but those additional aircraft will do little to keep the production line in Marietta, Ga., open beyond 2011. Lockheed Martin is the main contractor for the F-22, each of which costs about $140 million.
Gates announced the decision at a press conference on the Defense budget on Monday afternoon.
No money will be requested in the fiscal 2010 budget, congressional and industry sources familiar with the budget briefings told The Hill. Gates has been making calls to the chairmen of the congressional defense committees.
The final F-22 of the 183 currently on order will be delivered at the end of 2011. Building another four would keep the line open for only a few months beyond that end date.
Lockheed Martin and its subcontractors, including Boeing, in recent weeks have stepped up their campaign to keep the production line open. They argue that 25,000 people work directly for the 1,000 suppliers of the F-22 in 44 states, and another 70,000 indirectly owe their jobs to this program.
At 140 Million a pop, we could outfit a squadron for what we gave ACORN.
“To Play The Tsar.”
I think South Korea has a few dozen F-4s in service... maybe the Zero can buy them back... I’m sure they would be cheap...
Professor_Leonide: 02/18/2009
Semper Fi and calm down A.A. You and I are saying the same thing. They were not interested in the F-22 and passed on it instead willing to keep the F-18 and wait on the F-35.
I seem to remember an article posted here a while back that said there was an up grade to the F-16s that would make them much better than F-22s and do it for millions less.
Oh looky, a Troll....
Is the Government saying future wars will all be local and small? Then the question what plane would you wish to have?
My thinking is along the lines of a A-10”Warthog”. Rock solid and agile!
If there was, you can bet that we and all the countries that have them or build some variant based on it would be doing that upgrade.
Jintau, Putin, and Medvedev are smiling from ear to ear.
The Air Force is required because of the simple physics of flight, and aerial force projection. Add up the following, if you know how to add.
Large masses accelerate more slowly than small masses. It takes more than a mile for a loaded B-52 to get airborn. A B-52 is VERY large. It will not fit on the largest aircraft carrier ever built. A single B-52 carries many times the bomb load of a carrier based bomber. Modern Strategic Bombing is meant to deny Command, Control, Communication and Logistics to the Enemy. A B-52 is a target, and largely unarmed. Fighters, such as the F-22, are required to protect bombers, so the bomber can fulfill it's mission. The Air Force works Way Deep behind the MLR
Now, add THESE facts up. The Primary Mission of Marine Air is to provide Close Air Support for ground troops, and if there is any time or ammo left, can provide air superiority. Notice how few Marine pilots went North on bombing missions during Viet Nam. It was not in the Mission Statement.
78% of the Earth is sea. The Navy projects force at sea, hence the haze gray paint job. Navy air protects carriers and all other shipping until the ship can unload on some Faraway Shore. An aircraft carrier, no matter how large , WILL SINK. Airplanes don't float.
The THREE branches are mutually supporting, even if the Air Force treats it like a 9 to 5 job. Navy Air covers the Sea, and bits close to the Sea, the Marine Air covers the actual combat zone, the Air Force fills in the rest.
No one likes Big Macs, and Walmart, so no one likes the US. Obamaq want to destroy it all, based on some hazy It's A Small World After All crack dream. We are trying to minimize the damage he is doing. You aren't too adept on this Logic thing, are you?
Loss of jobs is a reason given to Congresscritters because they only care about staying in Congress.
Tell a Congresscritter or Senator that 100,000 voters are not going to vote for you next time is motivation to keep an assembly line open.
Most Congresscritters wouldn’t know an F-22 from an F-86
I served for 20 years in the military and retired a few years ago, so I really resent being called a DUmmy. I just think the Air Force doesn’t care about the other services and the F-22 is superfluous to our War on Terror.
Oh good gawd all mighty, F-4's aren't energy star compliant, smoke like a smoke stack, move too fast, and are a flying tank!
We need to find a fighter design that can do mach 3, can't be seen, cost's nothing, enriches the environment, is powered by solar power, and shoots "Nerf Balls" that show worldly solidarity.
You base this opinion on what facts? Please, enlighten us all.
had my speakers turned up and WOW when it first came on.
No worries obama is using the money to form his civilian security force to match that of the military and no worries Acorn will get money
all is good in obama world, we won’t be attacked, we’re safer now. the messiah is here, and yep the world loves us.
So what if China, Russia and others are building their military we have our civilian security force in place soon
ARF
Are you in the U.S. Air Force?
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