The Buzz Does F-22 Podcast

The Buzz Does F-22 Podcast

By Colin Clark Tuesday, November 25th, 2008 12:20 pm
Posted in Air, International, Policy

For a jauntier and updated version of some of my F-22 coverage, you can tune in to a podcast here. I did the interview with Addison Schonland, president and founder of Innovation Analysis Group, a consulting firm based in San Diego.

We spoke about the Pentagon’s out-maneuvering Congress on the F-22 funding and John Young’s subsequent comments slamming the Raptor’s availability, maintenance and costs.

Addison, a native South African, did a nice job with the interview. Let us know what you think of my performance.

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John Drake November 25th, 2008 at 1:54 pm

The Pentagon is taking a big picture look at the entire force composition and budget so they don’t have the option of having tunnel vision regarding the F22 like the Air Force. The Air Force on the other hand has bet its whole future on the F22 much in the same way the Army has with the FCS, and don’t care if the plane can’t even be used in current conflict zones such as Iraq and Afganistan. Congress on the other hand just cares about the jobs of their constituencies and could care less if the plane worked or isn’t really needed.

Given the amount of bad judgment coming from the Air Force as of late I would be more inclined to trust Gates and Young on this one.

Scot November 25th, 2008 at 4:21 pm

What the story left out was that Young provided enough funds to keep the F-22 production line going until President Elect Obama takes Office. If, he want to continue Raptor production there will be no problem. If, not the US Defense Dept would have wasted billions of dollars on parts for aircraft that it would never build! Really, Congress was just trying to extend production of the F-22 way past the already agreed upon 183 aircraft. As it stands now they will get 4 extra aircraft. If, Young would have conceded to Congress. The US Taxpayer would have got 20 Aircraft if we wanted them or not.……Its Obama call not a hand full of Congressman.

pfcem November 25th, 2008 at 11:00 pm

Sad.

Just a few facts Colin seemed unable to recall…

Gates & England have had it in for the F-22 for a LONG time & it has NOTHING to do with the F-35, that is just a poor excuse.

The PUBLICLY ANNOUNCED OFFICIAL flyaway cost for the F-35A for export customers who commit before the end of FY2010 is $58.7 million.

The “$200 million” being quoted for Isreal is the TOTAL PROGRAM COST per aircraft IF ALL OPTIONS ARE EXERCISED — that includes spare parts, weapons, support, et cetera.

Here is something else to think about. It costs (at current prices, the more we procure the LOWER it would get) ~$3 billion to procure 20 F-22, if we did that each year for 10 years in order to get the USAF the 381 it NEEDS (not what it wants, what it NEEDS & even with that many it would have to by some miracle keep 178 F-15C “Golden Eagle” flying beyond 2025) it would be ‘just’ ~$30 billion (constant dollars over 10 years).

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