The final F-22 Raptor stealth fighter is scheduled to come off the line at Lockheed Martin's Marietta, Ga., plant on Dec. 13 2011.
12-12-2011 - Marietta, Ga -- The jet took its maiden flight in Marietta in September 1997 and production went into full swing. But its high cost and changes in military requirements for post-Cold War challenges brought down the F-22. In 2009, the U.S. government officially killed production of the jet. The final Raptor will be delivered to the U.S. Air Force in 2012 and completes the operational F-22 fleet, which totals 187, according to Lockheed.
Lockheed’s (NYSE: LMT) Aeronautics division employs about 2,000 people on the F-22 program at its Cobb County facility.
The Air Force had planned to order 20 Raptors in 2010 and 40 more in coming years before the U.S. Department of Defense decided in April 2009 to order no more. The DOD ordered 187 Raptors in total over the life of the program, some of which are still being built.
Widely acknowledged as the most capable fighter aircraft in the world, the $150 million F-22 has been under fire for years for bleeding away money needed elsewhere. George W. Bush’s administration wanted to kill it, but was overruled by Congress and by the U.S. Air Force, which wanted more of the aircraft. The Air Force originally wanted 750 F-22s.
While the aircraft is stealthy and can cruise at supersonic speeds, its high cost raised questions about whether it’s the proper allocation of increasingly limited government resources, especially in a recession.
Source: Atlanta Business Chronicle
COMMENTS:
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Marisa27Stuart | posted on Dec 23, 2011 @ 14:44
the f-22 is too vulnerel use stronger materials!
ferdinandscholten | posted on Dec 30, 2011 @ 02:45
too bad the F-22 is probably the best fighter in the history of aviation, 187 is not enough to face a large scale war or for the us air space defence, i don't understand why the goverment do things like this
felix lopez | posted on Jan 17, 2012 @ 03:48
too bad the F-22 is probably the best fighter in the history of aviation, 187 is not enough to face a large scale war or for the us air space defence, i don't understand why the goverment do things like this
felix lopez | posted on Jan 17, 2012 @ 03:49
WOW!!! Thank God for Lockheed. From the SR-71, U-2, ... and now the F-22! Virtually every important innovation in aviation.
I can't wait for the F-33. Let's spec it out and fly it.
Mach30 | posted on Feb 15, 2012 @ 05:53
Luv the raptor unless thier is a better plane build a thousand of the finest plane ever built freedom costs money we as a nation should spend
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TammyGraves | posted on Apr 06, 2012 @ 06:56
I think America is heading for a technological and industrial armegeddon, the f-22, a useless boondoggle, is just another example of American waste!
vittorio Capelli | posted on May 09, 2012 @ 10:36
The F-22 is the best jet in the world!!!!!
Corey Ruud | posted on May 14, 2012 @ 13:37
Mistakes are about perspective.
When Hitler invaded the Rhineland on 7 March 1936, not responding militarily to expel him was not a mistake.
Three years later, on 1 Sept 1939, as Hitler invaded Poland, not responding militarily to the Rhineland invasion of 7 March 1936 had become an enormous mistake.
Time will tell whether killing a superlative weapon system was a good move or not - there are those who would have American soldiers fight with rocks, for they are, after all, cheap.
Peaceinourtime | posted on May 23, 2012 @ 18:43
When the war comes with China and it will, we will regret not having built all 750. Ditto for the cancellation of the NLOS Cannon the only mobile Cannon equal to the Panzer 2000. Soon to publish author of "the Sleeping Giant Awakens - The Rise of China.
Thomas C. Waites | posted on May 25, 2012 @ 15:07
grounded
paul | posted on Jun 11, 2012 @ 02:29
Anyone who thinks the F-22 is a waste, or for that matter wants ANY cuts to the budget for future weapons technology has clearly never either A) been in combat or B) had a loved one who was in combat, because having EITHER OF THOSE will cause someone to seriously prioritize anything which will help keep our soldiers alive and coming home at the end of their tour!
familyoverseas | posted on Jun 26, 2012 @ 01:06
I love the Raptor! I think it's one of the best investment the US goverment has made. The only thing the government did wrong was having only 187 Raptors built. When the next modern war comes (and that will most likely be sooner than later), we will definately have a larger advantage with a Raptor fleet of 750 than we will with a fleet of 187.
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Hayden29Kirsten | posted on Nov 30, 2012 @ 04:20
Congress should have approved them for sale to allies that would have saved the aircraft
Rod | posted on Apr 01, 2013 @ 09:26
Raptors are multi tactical, stealthy, force multipliers. We lost our edge to the current Admin.
