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Officials at Lockheed Martin Corp. and the U.S. Air Force ratcheted up the fight to keep the F/A-22 next-generation fighter jet in production after 2008, saying its capabilities were essential to maintain U.S. air dominance on Sept. 13.
Further cost-cutting measures and a multiyear contract could help lower the cost of the expensive program, they said.
Maj. Gen. Richard Lewis, Air Force program executive officer for the F/A-22, lauded the fighter’s advanced capabilities, including its ability to fly for prolonged periods at supersonic speeds.
Lewis also raised the possibility of foreign sales of the advanced fighter jet to the United States’ closest allies, a move that could help further defray the cost of the program.
Lewis said the F/A-22’s ability to fight against surface-to-air missiles would be a critical asset in future warfare, but that capability had been kept quiet in the past due to the classified nature of much of the equipment.
Mistaken Patriot attacks on U.S. and British forces during the Iraq war underscored the importance of the F/A-22’s ability to identify and destroy incoming surface-to-air missiles, Lewis said. In both “friendly fire” incidents, pilots knew they were being wrongly targeted but could not evade the missiles.
Lewis said some countries had asked about possible foreign sales, but such a decision would be up to Defense Department officials, and would probably involve modifications to the airplane for export purposes.
He declined to name countries that would be interested in buying the planes.
Originally posted by ulshadow
Why would we sell raptors to allies? for one thing they will probility stab us in the back one way or another... besides our allies won't be able to afford it in the first place cause it's so dam expensive. if we do sell it to our allies i can bet you somehow it will land in teh hands of china somehow. i suggest use the plane for few years first then consteried selling to our allies.
Originally posted by ulshadow
Why would we sell raptors to allies? for one thing they will probility stab us in the back one way or another... besides our allies won't be able to afford it in the first place cause it's so dam expensive. if we do sell it to our allies i can bet you somehow it will land in the hands of china somehow. i suggest use the plane for few years first then consteried selling to our allies.
[edit on 14-9-2005 by ulshadow]
Originally posted by NWguy83
I'm sure we can trust Britain, Japan, Australia, and maybe Israel.
Originally posted by NWguy83
I'm sure we can trust Britain, Japan, Australia, and maybe Israel.
Originally posted by NWguy83
I'm sure we can trust Britain, Japan, Australia, and maybe Israel.
Originally posted by NWguy83
I'm sure we can trust Britain, Japan, Australia, and maybe Israel.
Originally posted by Manincloak
I don't know why the don't tell the Senate "just how good it is". Maybe it's because it's not that good...or at least not anymore.
I assume LM fixed all the many many many problems they were having with the F22? Well if this is the case, then they're bloody miracle workers.
Originally posted by Forsazh
im from Australia but i rekon the politicians are doin a crap job
they are goin to buy the JSF to replace the hornets and F-111s
u cant replace F-111s with any form of F-35 basically it dont have the range, speed or weapons load of the pig
the politicians also havent ruled out buying the FA-22, mainly cos the JSF is costing so much
if the aussies bught raptors instead then the price would nearly the same as buying JSFs also whats better 60 JSFs or 50 raptors? gotta be Raptors
Originally posted by Seekerof
As such, your implied reasoning that perhaps the Raptor is "not as good...or at least anymore" is ludicrous and uninformed.
You assume correctly, but then go on to assume incorrectly. The Raptor had few flaws or problems
Originally posted by Manincloak
Originally posted by Seekerof
As such, your implied reasoning that perhaps the Raptor is "not as good...or at least anymore" is ludicrous and uninformed.
You assume correctly, but then go on to assume incorrectly. The Raptor had few flaws or problems
www.counterpunch.org...
Idk if you've read it....or believe it, but I have and I do.