

  (Source: Lockheed Martin)
Last F-22 set to be delivered next spring



Source: Defense News

Comments     Threshold


RE: They should build more of these.
By 91TTZ on 12/7/2011 3:43:39 PM , Rating: 2
I agree somewhat. I think that the "cheaper, reduced capability" F-35 should be canceled since its price has risen to the point of the "expensive, full capability" F-22. It was originally supposed to be something like 1/3 to 1/2 the cost, and that low cost would have the additional benefit of increased commonality between versions meaning reduced supply-line overhead. Now it's something like 90% of the cost, and that applies to ALL the versions!

However, the VTOL and carrier variants can't be scrapped since the F-22 can't do those jobs. The carrier variant is replacing the F-18 and the VTOL variant is replacing the Harrier.

If they could have pulled it off and replaced 3 different fighter programs with 1 common fighter program, it would have been worth it. The F-16, Harrier, and F-18 would be replaced with the F-35A, F-35B, and F-35C, respectively. However, the cost has ballooned so much that it's no longer worth it. You could have paid for 3 simpler fighter programs that were specialized for their intended purpose instead of making an overly elaborate, jack of all trades that's meant to replace 3 inexpensive fighters. What we ended up with is an overpriced master of none.

By Solandri on 12/7/2011 4:35:30 PM , Rating: 2
At this point it's a white elephant. So rare that you can't get rid of it, but so big and expensive that keeping it is killing you.

The F-35 will become a case study in how trying to reduce costs by consolidating different products to share parts, can actually cause costs to increase.

By SunLord on 12/7/2011 6:27:46 PM , Rating: 2
At this point it probably would of been better to develop a F-22 variant with a larger bomb load out or spent time developing a stealth friendly pylon system that would blend into the F-22 given the price per plane would drop as we build more plus it would be a far more useful fighter for the air force.

We should of just built a dedicated VTOL F-35 for the Marines since the F-22 should of cleared the skies so all it would need to do is focus on stealth for facing ground based systems since it's most likely to be used for Ground support then anything sneaky where a B-2 and a F-22 would be the best options. Hell the F-18E is probably twice as stealthy as a Harrier.

