2006-08-23 16:40:30 · 7 answers · asked by solace001 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Military
According to the Air Force, factors in the selection for production of the F-22 were a better designed for maintainability, greater potential for future development, and slightly lower cost. Secretary of the Air Force Donald B. Rice stated that the choice was based on confidence in the ability of the Lockheed team and Pratt & Whitney to produce the aircraft and its engine at projected costs. Emphasizing the importance of the Lockheed team's management and production plans, he denied that either prototype was significantly more maneuverable or stealthy. A popular view is that the decision reflected a preference for maneuverability over stealth.
2006-08-23 17:00:04 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
There is also political considerations. The military is using fewer planes, which cost more. That greatly limits the U.S. ability to fund several different aircraft designers, which is required for bidding. I think there is only three main aircraft designers left now and all are hurting from lack of sales. The U.S. Congress bought several C-130s just to help one company provide jobs, even though the airforce just gave them to the national guard because the airforce didn't want them.
I think one company was awarded the F-22 contract and the other was awarded another aircraft contract so that both could be making planes and staying in business.
The contract for the F-22 was downsized to like 120 aircraft, when Russia decided to not build any more advanced aircraft because of cost. China also plans one greatly down sizeing yet modernizing their airforce for like 5,000 planes (including planes from WWII) to around 1,200 by 2020. One of the big things that sell modern fighters are future threats, but the only guys really making the future aircraft is the U.S. With the JAF, there will even be less variety of fighters in the sky.
2006-08-23 19:20:11 · answer #2 · answered by gregory_dittman 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The YF-23 was a less stable platform than the YF (now F/A) 22. It had serious problems with the computer control, and the design was deemed overly complicated. And while highly maneuverable aircraft are inherintly unstable, the YF-22 still out-performed the YF-23, and was a safer aircraft.
2006-08-24 23:20:40 · answer #3 · answered by The_moondog 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The BWidow is not a friend to pilots
2006-08-23 16:41:53 · answer #4 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Greater range & ceiling.
2006-08-23 16:42:00 · answer #5 · answered by Kelli 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Um.....to get to the other side?
2006-08-23 16:41:37 · answer #6 · answered by You'll Never Outfox the Fox 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
better manuverability
2006-08-26 21:10:32 · answer #7 · answered by chris m 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋