Forum: General F-22A Raptor forum

Nope 187, plus maybe one or two more from the "Long Lead time" parts Mr. President Bush ordered to turn over the decision on the porgram is it. Game Over, don't let the door hit you on your bum on the way out. The only Jet (modern of course) in american history that has ever "restarted production" was the U2, and that was because congress pulled the plug on the SR-71, which was suppose to replace the U2.

The B1-B is a totally different Bird from the B1-A. Nixon's Cabinet decided to reinstate the program, but it was at a totally different stage in it's life than the 22 is now, so drawing a parallel between these jets is almost irrelevant. It would be more along the lines of the f-35 getting canned, and than the next president restarting it.

But New jets are showing up with FF tail flashes!! Hurray, for purty paint jobs.

Before we even talk about whether to resurrect the F-22, let's first explore what REAL THREAT that the current F-16s and F-15s (and much other jets) are unable to meet? This threat thing is blown way overboard for a war economy.

Remember, perceived threat is NOT real threat. It's only what one thinks or feels, and that can be wrong at times. (America's intelligence on Iraq has failed miserably anyway.) For now, it is just another expensive hobby at the expense of the taxpayers. Little wonder why it is deep in trillions of debts.

Heck, too much Fear Factor on TV?

To say that the B-1B was a totally different bird from the B-1A is a stretch. There were plenty of reasons the USAF could have gone with a whole different design or pour all of their money into ATB (B-2) development. The work done on the B-1A enabled such a resurrection despite the fact that there was virtually nothing but the B-1A design work and prototypes to take advantage of. It was choose to produce the B-1B despite this, so why could an upgraded "F-22C" not see the same?

Besides for all of the design work there would be the existing F-22A fleet, some leftover production assets, and the continued development of the APG-77/81, F119/F135, and other related components. Certainly a bit more to work with than the B-1B had.

It would obviously be a difficult task to restart production, comparable to getting the F-22A line ready to begin with. Yet it is certainly possible, if unlikely due to politics.



And are we supposed to keep these F-15s and F-16s flying for 20 more years with duct tape and glue? They will have to be replaced due to age eventually, not to mention the whole "improving capabilities" matter. Standard F-15s and F-16s are already outclassed by some upgraded Flanker variants.

A perceived threat can just as easily become a real threat and it is a good idea to prepare for the worst. Regarding national debt the government hasn't given a damn about spending trillions on an ineffective "stimulus", healthcare bribery, and countless other bottomless pits. That money would have been far better spent on modernizing our military.

Our military is an "extensive hobby"? Honestly that must be what many senators who want to smash the DoD "piggy-bank" think these days.

A country or society that thinks it's "too expensive" to defend itself will not be around long.

You know, one has to wonder if the T-50's maiden flight might have some influence on the F-22's future.

I wonder what states those Senators were from and what % of F-22 contracts those states have.

I wonder what states those Senators were from and what % of F-22 contracts those states have.