No more F-22?

[msmith198025]

http://www.hometownannapolis.com/news/gov/2009/04/07-19/www.hometownannapolis.com

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090406/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/defense_budget;_ylt=Ar2e_pWAJpn.pNhlFqGEMb7Zn414

So lets not update our air force to the levels we need?
First no new tanker for a while (stupid!) and now we consider halting orders and production on the most advanced fighter in the world?
This makes no sense on several points. Superior fighter capabilities and costing many jobs.

[Madtown HD Junkie]

wrong time to do that.

[Carl]

We have enough planes, tanks, and ships. We need to take of Americans for a while.

[msmith198025]

We have enough planes, tanks, and ships. We need to take of Americans for a while.
Carl, do you think everyone else is sticking with technology that they had in the 70s or before? I remember North Korea launching a "satellite" a few days ago, and didnt Iran do something?.....

Come on, there are things we can cut. Sure. Vital parts of our defense are not them

[fallout2600]

Not surprised, Obama said he would cut back military spending..

[Carl]

W e are hradly going back to the 70's for technology. Obama is even cutting out new helicopters for himself. He is leading by example. Refreshing isn't it?

[fallout2600]

Of course we aren't going back to the 70's, its just time to cut back a little while the economy catches back up. This doesn't make us any less secure at the moment.

[msmith198025]

Carl, if you look at the two exapmles I gave, what they will replace is 70s tech or even older. The F-16, which is one of the jets that the F-22 will replace, was first flown in 74 (i think). While it is still a capable aircraft, other nations are catching up to it. We should not allow that to happen.

The tanker fleet we have is around 50 years old, and eats up MILLIONS each year in maintenance costs.

So while, no we arent going BACK to the 70s, we are using tech designed then, or before

Now I do agree that the helicopters needed to be axed

[Carl]

I read somewhere they already have the next generation plane being worked on. These cuts are much to do about nothing.
Republican hot air.

[msmith198025]

I read somewhere they already have the next generation plane being worked on. These cuts are much to do about nothing.
Republican hot air.

Carl, I am sure they are, howevr at this point, to my knowledge, the oly other next gen plane that is in or close to production is the F-35. Which is basically a slightly less capable, single engine version of the F-22. Both planes need to be produced, and the older models need to be phased out as they are replaced. Read about the problems we are having with the F-15. They are working on them as much as they fly them.

[cybok0]

Carl, if you look at the two exapmles I gave, what they will replace is 70s tech or even older. The F-16, which is one of the jets that the F-22 will replace, was first flown in 74 (i think). While it is still a capable aircraft, other nations are catching up to it. We should not allow that to happen.

The tanker fleet we have is around 50 years old, and eats up MILLIONS each year in maintenance costs.

So while, no we arent going BACK to the 70s, we are using tech designed then, or before

Now I do agree that the helicopters needed to be axed

During the first Gulf war, the B-52, which was built in the 50's, plus the plane I worked on:), was used extensively. The B-1 bomber, which was suppose to replace the B-52, was left in the states, why because the B-52 even though much much older was/is a better plane.

There are planes that can be used for a length of time, with updates being capable and other planes just need to be replaced, hell I never understood why the retired the U-2, but IMO they know what they are doing.

The new stealth plane will be better.

If you like planes, this is pretty cool.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xoxfn8EKDN0

They have my B-52s in there.:)

Here is my other favorite plane, the A-10 Warthog.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bMfrixJyWc

[HDRoberts]

While it is still a capable aircraft, other nations are catching up to it. We should not allow that to happen.

The Russians and Chinese have some things in development, but still not in production, and at least the Chinese aircraft is not likely to be as capable. I think even 10 yeas from now, the F-15, F-16 and F-18 team could effectively wipe the floor with the rest of the world's air forces. If you ask me, more development should be put into air-to-air missiles, so our old fighters don't even need to get close.

[msmith198025]

I understand that there are many older designs that are still quite capable. The F-16 is one of them. However we have seen no signs of other nations scaling back their next gen fighters, and we should not either.

This is not even taking into account all of the jobs that will be lost by doing away with this program. Up to 10,000 I have heard

[Carl]

The Russians and Chinese have some things in development, but still not in production, and at least the Chinese aircraft is not likely to be as capable. I think even 10 yeas from now, the F-15, F-16 and F-18 team could effectively wipe the floor with the rest of the world's air forces. If you ask me, more development should be put into air-to-air missiles, so our old fighters don't even need to get close.

and robot controlled...like a video game.

[Bob Haller]

yeah the future of combat and military in general is robotics

[Carl]

agreed Bob!

[msmith198025]

yeah the future of combat and military in general is robotics

Maybe, however we have a ways to go before we can replace everything with robotics, and you do not just make large jumps like that. It is done in steps. Of which, IMHO, the F-22 is one.

[stevenl]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRwby_vjg88