The Politics Behind The F-22 Decision

Defense Secretary Robert Gates shown outside at the Pentagon in Washington on September 21. (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters)

When Gates Stared Down The F-22 Lobbyists -- Christian Science Monitor

To cut the costly F-22 Raptor, he had to fire two top Air Force officials in his way.

Pentagon chiefs have taken stabs at reform before and seemed to fall on their swords. But this year is different.

When Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced his $534 billion budget on April 6, it included cuts, trims, and unhappy endings to high-profile weapons systems, like the F-22 Raptor, a $130 million-a-copy stealth fighter known as much for its unparalleled capability as its sticker price. Normally, defense contractors and other special interest groups – often within the Pentagon itself – armed with a fight-to-win mentality would stop such efforts in their tracks.

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