Air Force risks air dominance without F/A-22

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  • By Staff Sgt. A.J. Bosker
  • Air Force Print News
WASHINGTON --  Without the F/A-22 Raptor, the Air Force could face losing its lead in fighter aviation to other nations, said Maj. Gen. John D. W. Corley, director of Air Force Global Power Programs at the Pentagon.

"We need this aircraft," Corley said. "It's the only new U.S. aircraft that will be able to put weapons on target this decade and be capable of defeating next-generation threats."

The Air Force sees the F/A-22 as the key enabler for joint and coalition forces to be able to operate around the clock without fear of attack. The Raptor will also enable the service to operate its other stealth assets - the B-2 Spirit, F-117 Nighthawk and Joint Strike Fighter -- during the day.

"If we begin to hobble this program and begin to reduce what is clearly the best strike aircraft that has ever been produced, then later this decade we will lose the ability to provide unchallenged air dominance over the battlefield for U.S. and allied forces," the general explained.

For more than half a century, American ground forces have not had to worry about threats from enemy aircraft. Corley said he worries that without the Raptor to meet and beat the challenges posed by the next generation of foreign aircraft, this could change.

"That would be a dreadful first for us," he said.

Although there is an estimated $880 million cost increase to extend the engineering, manufacturing and development phase of the F/A-22 program, Air Force officials remain committed to funding any increase from within the program itself.

"We are confident that with the efficiencies and control measures we've put in place, and with better coordination with the contractor, we'll be able to deliver on a great aircraft within the constraints of the $43 billion procurement cap for the program," Corley said.

This extension of the EMD phase is not because of aircraft performance but increased time required addressing avionics software instability and fin buffet issues.

"The F/A-22 is a great aircraft, and its performance to date has been outstanding," he said. "The combination of all aspects -- stealth, supercruise, its revolutionary maneuverability and the integrated avionics -- will give us an unfair advantage over any enemy in the foreseeable future."

The Raptor is needed and Air Force leaders fully support and concur with a "buy-the-budget" philosophy for the F/A-22, according to the general.

"We aren't asking for a removal or expansion of the procurement cap," he said. "We just want the opportunity to make best use of the dollars by stabilizing this program so we can buy the greatest quantity of aircraft with the available dollars."

In the procurement world, reducing the number of aircraft being purchased does not always save money in the long run. In fact, as fewer aircraft are purchased, the cost per aircraft usually increases. If at a later date more aircraft are required, the aircraft must be purchased at an elevated price.

The Air Force experienced this with the C-17 Globemaster III program when it had to reduce the number of C-17s that it wanted to purchase because of similar program instability, Corley said.

However, when the plane finally entered service, the nation saw that there was still a need for more of them, he said. Even though the Air Force has purchased more aircraft, it is not been able to get back to the original cost and must pay a premium price per aircraft.

"Let's not repeat the same mistakes," Corley said. "Let's not keep chipping away at the F/A-22 program. Let's not cause the taxpayer to spend more money to subsequently buy back critical capability. There is an essential need for the F/A-22 in sufficient numbers, just as there was, and is, for the C-17.

"Let's take F/A-22 successfully through testing, stabilize the program and quickly ramp to production rates that field capability critical to our nation's defense," he said.