Friday, January 09, 2009

F-22 news

About the time I did my Wednesday post on the F-22, Reuters published an article regarding the stealth fighter.

Here's a snippet of it:

The incoming Obama administration must make a quick decision on whether to continue the F-22 fighter program, or risk beginning to lose critical suppliers, the Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N) executive who runs the program told Reuters on Wednesday.

"Every day that this decision is delayed creates more risk, ultimately, for the supplier base," Larry Lawson, executive vice president and F-22 general manager, said in an interview.

Congress, keen to maintain 25,000 jobs directly linked to the radar-evading fighter jet, has approved up to $140 million in bridge funds for 20 F-22s to be purchased in fiscal 2010, although the Pentagon's chief arms buyer John Young has only released $50 million.

If Obama's team signs on to continued production by March 1, Congress said another $383 million could be spent on parts that take a long time to make.

If we let the F-22 program flounder, it will be a very expensive mistake.

Related post:

Hey Obama: A defense stimulus would be wise

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3 comments:

Jim Roper said...

Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't
the U.S military have F-14's in
the not too distant past??

Old Air Force Sarge said...

Our world is SO unstable - why would anyone consider discontinuing this defense?! AND, discontinue this program and put us MORE into a recession by discontinuing THOUSANDS of jobs....the decision is a no-brainer!!! (Just tell Lockhead that they must take less for the planes and TELL them to cut the costs - we're all having to do with less so why should they be any different if they want to keep the contract and keep their jobs?)

Greybeard said...

Yes mouser, we had F-14's in the recent past.
We had F-4's too. Both damn fine airplanes for the 60's and 70's!