Congress supports more F-22s.

[F-15 Eagle]

http://www.star-telegram.com/804/story/629625.html

The subcommittee seemingly gave a boost to Air Force leaders in their efforts to continue the F-22, which is scheduled to go out of production in 2011. The Pentagon leadership wants to cap the F-22 fleet at 183 fighters, but the Air Force is pushing for at least 381 F-22s, saying it needs at least that many to maintain U.S. air superiority.

Subcommittee members approved $3 billion for 20 F-22s, the final block in a previously approved multiyear contract, and called for an additional $523 million to purchase material for 20 more Raptors in fiscal 2010.

The recommendation would enable thousands of F-22 suppliers to gear up for continued production and was interpreted as a first step toward keeping F-22 assembly lines operating beyond the Pentagon's original timetable. Pentagon officials have acknowledged that the ultimate decision on the Raptor's future will be made by the next administration.

 

[Ozzy Blizzard]

Great news for the USAF! Allthough its a long way from 381, every additional platform is good news.

 

[battlensign]

Great news for the USAF! Allthough its a long way from 381, every additional platform is good news.

Call me cynical but I am not sure that anyone can claim that any Australian support for this move is entirely impartial.......

But as oz says, very good news for the USAF!

Brett.

 

[Feanor]

So.... how many will be produced now? 203?

 

[F-15 Eagle]

So.... how many will be produced now? 203?

Thats what it looks like. I should not jump to any conclusions but the new number might be 203 with more on the way I say a minimum of 250 F-22s should be built with a goal of 381. Assuming the next president allows more F-22s which I'm confident they will.

I found many articles like this one.

http://www.star-telegram.com/business/story/630040.html

"Subcommittee members approved $3 billion for 20 F-22s, the final block in a previously approved multiyear contract, and called for an additional $523 million to purchase material for 20 more Raptors in fiscal 2010."

So they will get $523 million as a down payment for long lead items for 20 more F-22s in 2010. Something that the USAF has been begging for ever since last November.

 

[eckherl]

Thats what it looks like. I should not jump to any conclusions but the new number might be 203 with more on the way I say a minimum of 250 F-22s should be built with a goal of 381. Assuming the next president allows more F-22s which I'm confident they will.

I found many articles like this one.

http://www.star-telegram.com/business/story/630040.html

"Subcommittee members approved $3 billion for 20 F-22s, the final block in a previously approved multiyear contract, and called for an additional $523 million to purchase material for 20 more Raptors in fiscal 2010."

So they will get $523 million as a down payment for long lead items for 20 more F-22s in 2010. Something that the USAF has been begging for ever since last November.

The USAF will eventually get to the 381 number, the F-15 air frame reliability concerns have sealed that for them along with USAF top brass digging their heals in. I also still believe that Japan will get a export version of the Raptor.

 

[Sea Toby]

You know as well as I do that nothing is concrete until the House and the Senate agree, and individual subcommittes votes are not the final word. What the House decides and what the Senate decides, if different, end up in a joint committee. And while if the joint committee agree, both the majority of the House and of the Senate still have to agree. While appropriation bills are usually passed before the elections during an election year, so that the members can concentrate on the fall elections, this isn't always the case. Especially if there is a good chance of an election change.

Since the Raptor has not met the qualifications for a multi-year contract, the Raptor appropriations have been limited to year to year funding. Therefore any increase in numbers is only guaranteed to that year's number, not the whole program. And keep this in mind, any presidential veto will send the bill back to both Houses. Since the Democrats have included a get out of Iraq date by January 2009 to the bill, its most likely, 99.99% sure, will get a veto from our current president.

Lately, there have been so many differences with the Defense appropriations bills from both houses of Congress, I don't even bother to follow any of this until the bill has come back from the joint committee, when both houses vote for the second and final time.

 

[f-22fan12]

As many of you know, I am a very strong supporter of the F-22A Raptor. And WOW! this is very good news. I believe that Congress will end up funding the full requirement. Don't want to start an arguement but just wanted to mention the Military Industrial Complex is partly Congress, and I figured due to the HUGE amount of jobs involved that the program would continue.

 

[ASFC]

I agree with Sea Toby. This is good news, but remember Congress does not have to agree with what one of its commitees says and both chambers could still vote it out.

 

[Sea Toby]

Not to mention that most of the House and Senate committee members either have military bases in their districts, or large defense contractors. Currenty, the House committee chairman is David Obey, from defense base-less and military contractor-less northwest Wisconsin, Superior. I find it interesting that he even allowed a vote on the Raptor, he has the power as chairman to squash, not allow any amendment to hit his committee and/or the House. This is why I don't expect there will ever be any foreign sales, as he would have to change his mind and kill his own amendment.

 

[IrishHitman]

Definitely a favourable move towards continued US air superiority.
Good news for the whole West, imo.

 

[F-15 Eagle]

Not to mention that most of the House and Senate committee members either have military bases in their districts, or large defense contractors. Currenty, the House committee chairman is David Obey, from defense base-less and military contractor-less northwest Wisconsin, Superior. I find it interesting that he even allowed a vote on the Raptor, he has the power as chairman to squash, not allow any amendment to hit his committee and/or the House. This is why I don't expect there will ever be any foreign sales, as he would have to change his mind and kill his own amendment.

Most Democrats in congress realize the importance of America's air supoerity and they will build more F-22s than just 183. I find the election coming up a very good thing for the USAF as they will have new leadership and a better chance of getting more F-22s since the current president is against the F-22.

David Obey is only aganist F-22 sales to foreign countries. And even if he is anti-F-22 he is only one guy and everyone else in the House could vote for more F-22s which they did. The Senate however are at odds with each other but I would expect both the House and the Senate will agree for more F-22s by this Fall. As nothing is set in stone yet.....

 

[tphuang]

just as a warning, don't turn this into an election or political debate.

 

[Sea Toby]

But I won't get excited over a sub committee vote of the House, its not even a vote of the House Armed Services committee, nor is it a vote of the House. Its just a clog in the process, only. As I said before, I don't even bother to watch, much less be informed of the process, until the process reaches its final: the joint House-Senate conference committee vote and the final vote in both houses. We are still at first base, authorization process done, approaching second base, House approprations.