F22 Program In Question
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F22 Program In Jeapordy..... Again!
It seems that after the cancellation of the Commanche, the F22 is once again in the firing line.
"WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Pentagon may have to scrap its premier fighter jet program to help pay for the war in Iraq (news - web sites), Sen. John McCain, an influential member of the Armed Services Committee, said on Sunday.
"It's obvious that we're paying a heavy price, I think, for not having had enough troops there from the beginning," the Arizona Republican said on NBC's "Meet the Press."
McCain said both the U.S. Army and the Marine Corps must be expanded overall, a position at odds with President Bush (news - web sites)'s administration. The United States has about 135,000 troops in Iraq, a number that McCain, an influential member of the Armed Services Committee, said must rise.
As part of a broad overhaul of U.S. priorities, he said, the Pentagon may have to scrap the $71 billion Air Force program to buy F/A-22 air-to-air fighters built by Lockheed Martin Corp.
"We may have to cancel this airplane that's going to cost between $250 million and $300 million a copy," said McCain, floating what could become a major new legislative hurdle to a top Air Force priority.
McCain led a drive that stalled what has become a $23.5 billion plan to lease up to 20 and buy up to 80 modified Boeing Co. 767s as mid-air refueling tankers. The plan is on hold pending reviews due next month at the Pentagon.
"We've got to change the way we do business and put the priority where it belongs," McCain said. "And that is making sure that we succeed in Iraq."
"WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Pentagon may have to scrap its premier fighter jet program to help pay for the war in Iraq (news - web sites), Sen. John McCain, an influential member of the Armed Services Committee, said on Sunday.
"It's obvious that we're paying a heavy price, I think, for not having had enough troops there from the beginning," the Arizona Republican said on NBC's "Meet the Press."
McCain said both the U.S. Army and the Marine Corps must be expanded overall, a position at odds with President Bush (news - web sites)'s administration. The United States has about 135,000 troops in Iraq, a number that McCain, an influential member of the Armed Services Committee, said must rise.
As part of a broad overhaul of U.S. priorities, he said, the Pentagon may have to scrap the $71 billion Air Force program to buy F/A-22 air-to-air fighters built by Lockheed Martin Corp.
"We may have to cancel this airplane that's going to cost between $250 million and $300 million a copy," said McCain, floating what could become a major new legislative hurdle to a top Air Force priority.
McCain led a drive that stalled what has become a $23.5 billion plan to lease up to 20 and buy up to 80 modified Boeing Co. 767s as mid-air refueling tankers. The plan is on hold pending reviews due next month at the Pentagon.
"We've got to change the way we do business and put the priority where it belongs," McCain said. "And that is making sure that we succeed in Iraq."
Last edited by Fox3snapshot; 11th Apr 2004 at 22:07.
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Is that $250m per aircraft the actual production cost to make each airframe or (total development + production costs / number of aircraft produced)?
The only reason the B-2 was $2billion+ each was because they changed the order from 120+ to 21 although making the world's scariest bomber will never come cheap.
The only reason the B-2 was $2billion+ each was because they changed the order from 120+ to 21 although making the world's scariest bomber will never come cheap.
This is supposed to be one of the last manned fighters in service! I really can't see the US being able to canx the programme at this late stage. Lockheed would go bust after all the development costs. Surely the answer is to HOLD the JSF programme until Iraq is paid for??
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Dear all,
I do not want to get into the political side of this too much as I seem to have a bit of a reputation. However, this surely is a pivotal moment in the Bush Administration. The plane was ordered under the Bush/Reagan administration and has cost billions so far. To cancel it now would cause the current administration grief on several levels, military, fiscal and political. It would make it difficult to campaign on "Strong on Defence" and "Fighting the War on Terror" while cancelling the two biggest aircraft programs outside the JSF in the space of 6 months. Secondly, it would be political suicide in the states where it is to be built (Texas, Georgia and Washington)
Cheers
BHR
I do not want to get into the political side of this too much as I seem to have a bit of a reputation. However, this surely is a pivotal moment in the Bush Administration. The plane was ordered under the Bush/Reagan administration and has cost billions so far. To cancel it now would cause the current administration grief on several levels, military, fiscal and political. It would make it difficult to campaign on "Strong on Defence" and "Fighting the War on Terror" while cancelling the two biggest aircraft programs outside the JSF in the space of 6 months. Secondly, it would be political suicide in the states where it is to be built (Texas, Georgia and Washington)
Cheers
BHR
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The yanks are considering the F..sorry FA22 as a the basis for a long range interdiction platform to replace the Strike Eagle.
Funny if the RAF ends up with a Typhoon with conformal tanks as FOAS.
Funny if the RAF ends up with a Typhoon with conformal tanks as FOAS.
