| The F-22 Fighter Plane (Which started | | | | advancement doesn't come cheap or easy. |
| life as the Advanced Tactical Fighter | | | | But the most powerful country in the |
| {ATF} and later became the Air Dominance | | | | world is ALWAYS the country with the |
| Fighter {ADF}) and the Typhoon were | | | | most powerful military. You can't very |
| programs started in the early 80's. The | | | | well impose your will if you... can't |
| F-22 is intended to replace the F-15C/D | | | | impose your will. |
| While the Euro fighter plane is intended | | | | Our military isn't just judged based |
| to replace a whole plethora of aircraft. | | | | upon its ability to fight those we will |
| The JSF (Joint Strike Fighter) is a | | | | likely have to in the near future. But, |
| replacement for aircraft types such as | | | | everything out there. including our own |
| the Harrier (VSTOL variant slated for | | | | weapons. |
| the USMC; Britain), the F-16 (CTOL | | | | A lot of Russian/European Fighter planes |
| Variant for the USAF) and the F/A-18C/D | | | | are at par or has exceeded the F-15E's |
| (Naval Variant for the USN). | | | | capability. This puts the US at a |
| While the Jury is still out on the JSF | | | | disadvantage. Besides, F-15 will be at |
| (As far as I am concerned) I think the | | | | least 25+ years old. For a military |
| F-22 has turned into one of those | | | | that's taking the fight into the OPFOR's |
| "Projects that won't die" like the M2/M3 | | | | own backyard, the US has to dominate its |
| Bradley. The US Government has spent so | | | | battle space. And that means having an |
| much money on it that they can't afford | | | | Air Superiority to operate with |
| to buy it. | | | | impunity. |
| Do we need it? That question is already | | | | Sure, it's expensive. But whoever said |
| moot. We are getting it whether we | | | | that Air Superiority was cheap? If you |
| "need" it or not. I think, however, that | | | | looked back into the 70s when the F-15 |
| the F-22 may be the last manned fighter | | | | was still in its R&D phases lawmakers |
| to be deployed. The focus will, IMHO, | | | | said the same damn thing: "that plane's |
| switch to highly capable UCAVs... | | | | too expensive!" And now, we got hundreds |
| From a military perspective, yes. What | | | | of them. |
| will stop these European countries from | | | | The F-22 may be the single biggest waste |
| selling this aircraft to any country | | | | of money since the B-1. Large, heavy, |
| that wants it? What will stop members of | | | | bad E-M (energy-maneuverability) ratings |
| the design team from selling plans to | | | | it simple is not a good air plane. |
| other countries? It is possible that our | | | | Instead of being based on the E-M theory |
| aircraft will infact have to fly against | | | | like the F-15 and 16 were it has instead |
| the euro fighter. | | | | reverted back to the |
| Keep in mind, there was a time when Iraq | | | | bigger-higher-faster doctrine. It simply |
| was our ally (of sorts). Just because | | | | puts to many gizmos into a plan that |
| someone is my ally today does not mean | | | | doesn't need it. The E-M theory proved |
| they will be tomorrow. If I'm putting | | | | that the lighter the plane the better it |
| you in a hunk of metal that for all | | | | will be able to maneuver, the F-22 is |
| intents and purposes is one large | | | | one of the heaviest planes designed. |
| explosive. That you will have to fly | | | | It also has far surpassed its budget and |
| faster than the speed of sound while | | | | its cost per plane is simply |
| being fired at.... call me crazy, but I | | | | unacceptable. By the time the air force |
| think you would like to be sitting in | | | | has enough money to replace its fleet |
| the most technologically advanced thing | | | | with these flying boxes they will be |
| you could get your hands on. | | | | long obsolete. |
| Being on the cutting edge of military | | | | |