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