So, F-22 re-start estimated at half a billion $ in 2010 (you just know that will have gone up in the following 6 years), but what about the actual cost of producing and buying the new F-22's? The software, and hardware on which it's hosted, will have to be updated, not to mention probably fitting some of the F-35's magic avionics plus upgraded/new F-22 specific avionics, develop the F-22's ground attack capabilities further perhaps. What about the existing F-22 fleet, would the avionics/software/hardware be backwards compatible, or would the USAF end up with a 'fleet within a fleet'? Add in a goodly measure of testing and evaluation and the price tag starts to go up considerably. I guess it would still be cheaper than a clean sheet, 6th gen design though, or would it? It would no doubt kill off Boeing as a fighter designer/manufacturer and consolidate LM as the only game in town...
-RP