The Lockheed Martin/Boeing F-22 Raptor is a fifth-generation fighter aircraft that uses stealth technology. It was designed primarily as an air superiority fighter, but has additional capabilities that include ground attack, electronic warfare, and signals intelligence roles. It is an essential element for defending our country and supporting our troops in future wars.After being harassed and brow beaten by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, Air Force leaders reluctantly agreed to cut their minimum request for F-22 production from 243 aircraft to 187. Both Secretary of the Air Force, Michael B. Donley, and Air Force Chief of Staff, General Norton A. Schwartz, have been silenced from speaking their minds on this issue by a gag agreement with Secretary Gates. This is just one of seven critical Air Force programs Secretary Gates has slashed in recent months (see my previous article, Secretary of Defense Emasculates the Air Force). And evidence suggests Secretary Gates fired former Secretary of the Air Force, Michael Wynne, and Air Force Chief of Staff, General Michael Moseley, for pressing Congress for funds to maintain the future viability of the Air Force (see my previous article, Firing the SECAF and CSAF: More Than Meets the Eye).
Recently, countless generals (current and retired) and members of Congress have gone on record to decry the F-22 acquisition reduction as dangerous for our future national defense and to overturn Secretary Gates' decision to halt F-22 production. President Obama has threatened to veto any bill that increases F-22 production above the 187 aircraft limit imposed by Secretary Gates.
Our leaders need to hear from us on this issue. Once the production line is closed it can NEVER be reopened. If we decide, later, we need more F-22s it will be too late! Our troops will pay the ultimate price on the battlefield if we fail to produce the required number of F-22s they will need to protect them. Click on the link, Buy More F-22s, to send a letter to your elected officials to demand they fund the full 243 F-22 aircraft production. This link will take you to the official US Congress website where you can write one letter to be sent to the President, your Congressman and your Senators. I have included a copy of the letter I sent for your review. Feel free to use it to help you compose yours.
I am a retired Air Force fighter pilot, having served my country for 26 years, including Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. 187 F-22s will leave our country dangerously ill equipped to fight future wars. We need a MINIMUM of 243 F-22s as originally recommended by Air Force leaders before being leaned on by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates. The Secretary proved he does not understand the need to prepare for future wars when he previously publicly accused military leaders of "preparing for the next war" as if it were a crime.
243 is the MINIMUM number of aircraft the Air Force will need to ensure it can accomplish its mission. It takes into consideration attrition due to peacetime incidents as well as wartime attrition which will be significantly higher. Keep in mind, once the production line is closed it cannot be reopened. If we realize at a later time we need more F-22’s, it will be too late. The Russians and Chinese are building their versions of the F-22, and their numbers will dwarf our 243, let alone 187!
Further, halting F-22 production at 187 is an extremely inefficient way to save money. Since the enormous costs of aircraft development are fixed and already spent, decreasing the number of aircraft produced will simply increase the F-22 unit cost from $143 million per aircraft to $350 million per aircraft.
In a time when we are spending trillions of dollars on any program Congress suggests, it is unconscionable to be cutting our future war fighting capability to this degree. For example, the $800 million you are considering to control wild mustang population could be used to purchase SIX F-22s! Which program do you think is more important?
I implore you to return F-22 production authorization to the 243 we need to defend our country in future wars. If you don’t, our troops will pay the ultimate price. Then it will be too late.
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