F-22 spending could top DoD budget-cut listBy Lara Jakes - The Associated Press
Posted : Friday Feb 13, 2009 20:01:15 EST
WASHINGTON — A Pentagon spokesman said Friday the military must tighten its budget belt by looking at ways to share equipment and services instead of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines each paying for its own.
To that end, Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell signaled that requests to build more F-22 fighter jets could be one area facing cuts.
The Obama administration is expected to decide by March 1 whether to spend $523 million on 20 more of the radar-evading stealth planes beyond 183 that are already planned — one of the first major defense spending decisions of the new presidency.
Lawmakers fear that ending F-22 spending would result in thousands of lost jobs during the global recession that began last year.
But Pentagon leaders, including Defense Secretary Robert Gates, have expressed doubt that more F-22s are needed, especially since the military plans to buy several thousand F-35s, a much cheaper plane.
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http://airforcetimes.com/news/2009/02/ap_pentagon_budget_021309w/%2euhc comment: A few minor points:
1. These puppies cost $355,000,000 a pop.
2. You already have 184 of them.
3. Howse that weatherproofing going?
4. Anymore bad titanium or aluminum parts?