Fort Worth Star-Telegram reporter Bob Cox writes a good piece today about the F-22's future in the hands of the Obama Administration.
The story perpetuates consultant Jim McAleese's claim two weeks ago at a Reuters event that the US Air Force wants to buy only 60 more F-22s, taking the total inventory to 243.
Is anybody really buying this?
The USAF's requirement for 381 F-22s still appears to stand -- although John Young raised some doubts about this last month. I'll leave judgment on whether 381 F-22s is the right call or not to others more informed -- or at least opinionated -- on operational requirements than myself.
I'm sure the USAF wants to buy at least 60 more F-22s in a new multi-year procurement deal.
But does anyone really believe that the USAF will allow F-22 production to disappear without a fight in 2012?
The story perpetuates consultant Jim McAleese's claim two weeks ago at a Reuters event that the US Air Force wants to buy only 60 more F-22s, taking the total inventory to 243.
Is anybody really buying this?
The USAF's requirement for 381 F-22s still appears to stand -- although John Young raised some doubts about this last month. I'll leave judgment on whether 381 F-22s is the right call or not to others more informed -- or at least opinionated -- on operational requirements than myself.
I'm sure the USAF wants to buy at least 60 more F-22s in a new multi-year procurement deal.
But does anyone really believe that the USAF will allow F-22 production to disappear without a fight in 2012?
on December 29, 2008 5:31 PM | Reply
The USAF probably thinks 60 additional Raptors is as many as they're likely to get, but of course they would love 381, or 500, or a 1,000...
on December 29, 2008 7:26 PM | Reply
Well there are over 600 active Air force and over 120 ANG F-15.
As I once said I think around 600 Raptors for the over 700 F-15C/Ds and around 800 F-35A for the 1200 F-16.
Bring around 120 A-10 back. Get all Thunderbolts II a real upgrade anf fix the army fire support problem.
on December 30, 2008 5:48 PM | Reply
As I recall there are quite a few A-10s in the boneyard at DM but new production would be out of the question as the tooling and the building the thing was made in are all gone.