"robert arndt" wrote in message
om...
"José Herculano" wrote in message
.. .
I'd say 2005.
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José Herculano

Hopefully never. By IOC of 2006/7 the unit cost of each F-22 is
projected at $162 million each!!!
That is obscene considering the supposed capabilities that the F-22
SHOULD have but really doesn't.
Why is it the Russians can make a Su-35 Superflanker or Su-47 Firkin
for $40-60 million, Europe can make the Typhoon for $75-80 million,
and the Raptor comes in at $150-162 million? That's not counting the
French Rafale nor Swedish Gripen.
The Raptor is NOT that much better overall than any of the other
aircraft, especially the most high-tech (non-export)versions of the
Flanker and Eurofighter.
I am firmly against the F-22 and want the entire program axed as do
many other taxpayers. It is a money pit and not likely to fulfill its
role as an air superiority machine once the UCAVs go into series
production. I do, however, favor the less expensive and badly needed
F-35 to "fill the gap" of aging aircraft. But there is nothing really
wrong with the best F-15s. Look at the Israeli F-15I. The US could
modernize the F-15 further and eliminate a huge amount of expense
without sacrificing current R&D on a suitable successor in the future.
However, threat analysis of today does not indicate a serious threat
emerging until after 2010 at least.
Germany's Taifun/Brevel/Mucke UCAV system will be operable by 2005/6.
This is primarily a ground attack family but the Germans are also
working on air-to-air and AUVs as well. Others have UCAVs under
development too as well as anti-stealth radars/missile systems.
I think our money should be spent more wisely...

Rob

Too bad you don't win a war based on the cheaper fighter jet. You put a
squadron of F-22s at some country's doorstep and you show me any country
that will be willing to fight in the air. That fact alone will probably
save you months to years on the duration of a war and billions of dollars in
cost savings and thousands of lives. They will pay for themselves just by
their meir existance.

How many billions have we spent on nuclear weapons? How many times have we
used them? You sleep well at night?

We should be willing to pay any price to continue to completely dominate the
battlespace. If we ever lose that edge, we'll find ourselves back into
another Kora, Vietnam, WWII nightware that no one wants. Your shinny new
car, or big new house, won't matter for a damn if you get drafted to go
fight some war that's dragging on because we outfitted our military with the
lowest bidder.