Image: Flickr/Creative Commons License.
America’s F-35 clearly has its share of problems. Such challenges only compound the U.S. Air Force’s real dilemma: not having enough dedicated air superiority fighters as potential competitors like Russia and China beef up their own capabilities. The problem stems from the fact that the Air Force’s Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor fleet was terminated after only 187 aircraft were built–less than half of the 381 jets the service needed as a bare minimum.
Speaking to reporters at the Air Force Association convention in National Harbor, Md., just outside the capital, Air Combat Command commander Gen. Hawk Carlisle said he would love to see the Raptor back in production. “I dream about it every night,” Carlisle said.
WNU Editor: It is a few years now, but I do recall reading that when the F-22 production line was being dismantled, photos and videos were taken of what was being removed, and all blueprints and information relating to the F-22 were archived for "possible reactivation" in the future. I guess this was the Pentagon's insurance policy that if the F-35 program became a complete disaster .... they could then ramp up the F-22 line.
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