F-22 Raptor production to end

+ - F-22 Raptor production to end-> 1

Submitted by tomduck on Tuesday July 21, 2009 @08:39PM

tomduck writes "The US Senate voted today to end production of the F-22 Raptor. The F-22 is the premier air superiority fighter in the US Air Force. The vote was not even close (58-40), and had support from both parties. The Joint Chiefs of Staff endorsed the decision that 187 F-22s were enough, although some generals — and certainly contractors — were unhappy. The key problems facing the F-35 are that it can only address a narrow range of threats, and expense ($137.5M per unit). The future needs of the US Air Force and Navy are expected to be filled by the less expensive and more versatile F-35 Lightning II ($87M per unit), and the nine nations participating in the Joint Strike Fighter Program are expected to procure 3,100 F-35s through 2035."
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