"Paul F Austin" wrote in message
...

"Kevin Brooks" wrote in message
...

"Henry J Cobb" wrote in message
...
Kevin Brooks wrote:
Actually, any protestations "too much" are due to trying to correct
the
ridiculous assertion that it has *no* air to ground capability as
is.
I
understand fully that the optimization of that capability requires
money--which is why there is a spiral development plan in place.
Recently in
this NG we have seen folks try to claim the $11 billion estimate was
solely
directed at turning the F/A-22 into a strike platform; not the case,
as
it
also includes air-to-air upgrades, ISR upgrade, etc. IMO, the F/A-22
does
indeed have its share of problems, chief among them being the change
in
the
nature of the threat it was originally intended to counter; I went
on
record
supporting a 180 aircraft buy before that number even became
fashionable
in
the DoD rumor mill. Currently I'd support a 200-220 number. Nobody
has
(with
any factual basis) accused me of being a rabid supporter of the
program--but
I don't think there is any point in making up negative points about
it
either, which is largely what we have been seeing of late.

So let's make lemonade here.

Give the F/A-22 as close to the same sensors, computers and software
as
the F-35 as possible so that not only is the JSF kickstarted but also
the F/A-22 will have an upgrade path in the future as improvements are
made to the JSF.

Yah, and just restart the development prgram for the F/A-22 all over
again
while you are at it, too, huh? I don't think so.

Although F-35 hardware may be rolled into F-22 production as a block
change
later. F-35 benefits from F-22 development and vice versa.

God bless BAE Systems.