Forum: F-22A Raptor

I'm not arguing we weren't off topic, considerably. But the F-14D cancellation reminds me of the F-22 in that they were both the object of much disdain by the Secretary of Defense (Cheney was SECDEF back then who halted F-14D production). Aside from its massive price tag, I just can't imagine why Gates wanted F-22 production capped. It just seems personal. The F-22 has much potential for growth such as cheek arrays, IRST provisions and I have heard mention of the ability to integrate a targeting sensor into the airframe. The F-22 could've been much more of a multirole aircraft than it is today.

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The thing that gets me is that we have put all our eggs in one basket with the F-35. With the F-22 at least we have a plane that is in service. Getting better every day.A bomber or mud hen version is not that out of the question. A twin seat version was on the drawing bord. As well as a naval version. The more we have the lower the cost. Right now if cost keep going up on the F-35 it will cost as much as the F-22 and be half the plane! What is wrong with this picture! is it just me ?

PS If we go on attrition F-22 vs anything 200 - 1 we will still have a few F-22's in the air when it's all over!

discofishing wrote:

I just can't imagine why Gates wanted F-22 production capped. It just seems personal.

I can't go into the man's head and know the hows and whys he thinks the way he does (nor do I want to). I can only speculate and come to the conclusion (and in agreement with others who have speculated) based on his actions that Gates does harbor some content or resentment towards the USAF (perhaps didn't have a good experience when he was in the USAF?). That, combined with the pressures from his position is what I think are among the reasons why the F-22 Raptor program has not enjoyed the kind of support it should get from the DoD.

It is also unfortunate that the USAF, who at one time did a lot to promote the F-22, who obviously knows what the F-22 can do the most, and the service that is responsible to ensure air superiority/dominance over current and future battlefields had to suffer as a result of this current SecDef. Now, you don't hear a lot about the good things the F-22 has done/achieved recently, even from the USAF.

Sad.

medicdwpa wrote:

The thing that gets me is that we have put all our eggs in one basket with the F-35. With the F-22 at least we have a plane that is in service.

Now you're just being logical and rational. That goes against the gov't's way of thinking...

Scorpion1alpha wrote:

discofishing wrote:

I just can't imagine why Gates wanted F-22 production capped. It just seems personal.

I can't go into the man's head and know the hows and whys he thinks the way he does (nor do I want to). I can only speculate and come to the conclusion (and in agreement with others who have speculated) based on his actions that Gates does harbor some content or resentment towards the USAF (perhaps didn't have a good experience when he was in the USAF?).

I read somewhere that his job as a USAF officer was to brief the Minuteman crews before they went underground. My guess is that he's still butthurt because some cool kids (aka fighter jocks) gave him a hard time. Small wonder that his vision of the future is an air force where everyone sits in front of monitors while wearing bunny slippers.

Scorpion1alpha wrote:

that Gates does harbor some content or resentment towards the USAF

Caught myself. I meant "contempt" not "content".

Some "boss" to work for, eh?

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The thing that gets me is that we have put all our eggs in one basket with the F-35. With the F-22 at least we have a plane that is in service.

If you think about it, we had something similar to the JSF in the form of the F-4 Phantom. But, the USAF still operated the A-7, F-111, F-105 and had various national guard units with the F-102 and F-106. The Navy still kept the F-8 around for some time after they got their F-4Bs and continued using A-4s, A-6s, and A-7s, for a long while. We never had all our eggs in one basket. If we continue to do so, I guess we can look forward to a couple more decades using F-16s, F-18s, and F-15s.

Quote:

If you think about it, we had something similar to the JSF in the form of the F-4 Phantom. But, the USAF still operated the A-7, F-111, F-105 and had various national guard units with the F-102 and F-106. The Navy still kept the F-8 around for some time after they got their F-4Bs and continued using A-4s, A-6s, and A-7s, for a long while. We never had all our eggs in one basket. If we continue to do so, I guess we can look forward to a couple more decades using F-16s, F-18s, and F-15s.

If Obama and Gates had there way ALL the F-15's and most of the F-16 would go away ASAP!. The F-18 wont last much longer in the C model secondary to airframe life. You can only crash them so many times into a carrier deck. To top it all off they are allready talking cuts in the F-35 progam because WoW it cost to much!!!!! Bang Head

Forum: F-22A Raptor

Why the Raptor was cancelled [Video]