US Air Force, WASHINGTON: During his final media availability session here Aug. 29, the departing chief of staff of the Air Force discussed his vision of the future force, Base Realignment and Closure and the challenges he faced as the service's senior military leader.
Gen. John P. Jumper said he believes the F/A-22 Raptor is the future of the Air Force, and that it was his job as chief of staff to make decisions that affect the service's future.
“The decisions we make today will deliver the force that three or four successors of mine will have to live with,” he said. “Look at the F/A-22 in particular. I don't really have to look further than the short term to see what is being delivered today out there around the world.”
What is being delivered, the general said, are Soviet-designed, high-tech weapons systems such as surface-to-air missiles and aircraft designed to fight the Cold War. Those weapons systems are still in production today and are in the hands of America's enemies. It is that unchecked proliferation of weapons systems that could one day threaten America's air superiority, he said.
“Everybody says the United States can't be challenged, but we see airplanes and SAM that can challenge the best of what we have today,” he said. “It has to be paid attention to.”
The general said he believes the F/A-22 can face those threats, and he has made great strides during his tenure as chief of staff to secure funding for and to move forward with the Raptor program.
“The F/A-22, I think, we
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