Broken Eagles Hatch New Raptors?
Follow up to a couple of articles Lex posted a couple weeks ago on the F-15 crash in Missouri…this comes from DefenseNews.com
F-15 troubles: The case for more F-22s was bolstered Nov. 3 when the Air Force grounded its entire fleet of 676 F-15s after one of them broke apart during a training flight by a Missouri Air National Guard pilot.
F-22s are the next-generation replacements for F-15s, some of which date back to 1975. The crash prompted a half-dozen senators to write to England of their dismay over “the grounding of our entire F-15 fleet due to concerns over the structural integrity of the aircraft.â€
Basically, some in Congress would like to see more F-22s over AF Sec England’s objections, sighting aging F-15s, potential Chinese or Russian/Indian 5th Gen fighters, and three AF studies stating that “a far larger number than 183 Raptors will need to be procured.” There is also, of course, the economic advantages building more F-22s bring to certain congressional districts.
So yes, issues pertaining to the age of the F-15 are getting used in the argument for more -22s. The debate goes on.
Posted by Sh1fty
On November 26th, 2007 under Military, Politics.
Comments: 3
Comments
Comment from Mike
Time: November 27, 2007, 1:08 am
A slight correction to your comments…Gordon England is the Deputy Secretary of Defense…the SecAF would be Michael W. Wynne. Both the Hon. Mr. Wynne and CSAF Gen. Moseley have stated that the USAF would prefer more Raptors (something to the tune of 381) but is willing to settle for 183.
Comment from Sh1fty
Time: November 27, 2007, 2:07 pm
True very true…wrote that too fast…
Comment from Steeljaw Scribe
Time: December 3, 2007, 11:29 am
FWIW I’ve had a gander at the latest item grounding the A/B/C/D fleet and it definitely ain’t pretty (Oregon ANG bird was the grounded example) – no fudging there…makes one wonder how many others are similarly affected.
- SJS
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