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F-22 Raptor Comes Online!
Posted: 16 Dec 2005, 10:42
by PanzerMeyer
Great news.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The futuristic F-22A "Raptor" fighter jet, designed to dominate the skies well into the 21st century, joined the U.S. combat fleet on Thursday, 20 years after it was conceived to fight Soviet MiGs over Europe.
The Air Force said "initial operational capability" had been achieved at the 1st Fighter Wing's 27th Fighter Squadron at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia.
Posted: 16 Dec 2005, 11:19
by KODIAK
How badly have the numbers been cut now? Stupid thing is, they cut numbers now, and the damn price goes up - later on they a) change their friggin minds (waste of money) or b) need spares which become almost impossible to afford and eventually price the aircraft fleet out of the sky!
Posted: 16 Dec 2005, 11:24
by PanzerMeyer
KODIAK wrote:How badly have the numbers been cut now?!
If I'm not mistaken, I believe the initial order from the Air Force was for 180 units.
Posted: 16 Dec 2005, 11:25
by KODIAK
Can't really see the numbers getting past 100 units now, to be honest. In the Cold War era, they would be way past that by now, way past . . . .
Posted: 16 Dec 2005, 19:11
by Jedi Master
PanzerMeyer wrote:KODIAK wrote:How badly have the numbers been cut now?!
If I'm not mistaken, I believe the initial order from the Air Force was for 180 units.
LOL, define "initial". When the ATF program started in the late 80's, it was supposed to be 750! Then 450, then 340, then 270...
Posted: 18 Dec 2005, 06:26
by KODIAK
Yeah, Jedi we kinda covered most of the ground on this last night when we chatted. The two main things are that as they cutr the numbers they cut their own throats financially AND in theatre. The less they buy, the more expensive they become (which also includes spares), and also on the battlefield numbers are as much a phsycological advantage as they are a tactical advantage. As a fighting soldier you can never have enough in numbers or in capacity of any weapon. And what better way to win an argument than with the big stick theory - never having to lift a finger in anger? Just my thoughts, and those of hundreds of thousands of other combatants.
:shock:
