f-22 raptor?

Question

is it really necessary, y build it when the jets we have now like the f-18 are great, y cant they just upgrade the f18 and f15 instead of wasting all the money on the raptor

Answer 1

We do not want to let anyone catch up to us.

Overall their are reasons not to like your F/A-18 example, but the reasons to do it are staggering.
1. We do not yet have a stealth fighter.
2. The F-15 is at the end of its service life.
3. This will gaurentee air supremecy for years.
4. It keeps DoD manufacturers employed and using the tools of the trade (This is bigger than you can imagine)
5. The F-22/A dominance is incredable, more can be done with one airframe, than many F-15's
6. Ensures a new combat platform to maintain R & D for new technology (very big for the long term)
7. Forces potential enemies to exhaust funds and energy to attempt to gain paridy or develop effective countermeasures, diverting them from other projects.

This list can keep going, but the F-22 is the first new fighter airframe in what 20-30 years? The time has come, and it is an excellent Aircraft to do it with!

ADDED: Mac
The F-117 has no fighter capabilities. When it was designed every aspect of it was gaurded. It released publicly as the F-117 to decieve people from knowing it was actually an Attack Aircraft. It is now designated the F/A-117 Nighthawk. It does not have one fighter bone in its frame, subsonic, not the most manueverable, and no capability to fire air to air weapons. So the "F" stands for Figther, but that was a deception (I'm sure AF guys will also agree), that is why the "A" is added, to designate it for it true mission, attack.
Acknowldged Mac, I think this would be an intersting conversation, but in a different forum. I see your point, and with your position not going to question it.

Answer 2

Air frames get old-look at the problems they are having with the F-15 now. They could upgrade and replace the airframes but in a few more years the same problems arise so it is not cost effective. Making/developing new aircraft though expensive, means the aircraft is usable longer and if an emergency the manufacturing lines and equipment exist. The part of the development and production that takes time making new equipment to make new things which takes years; not something you would want if someone else developed the better aircraft and then you started. The F/A-18's replacement will not be available for a few more years and by that time the age of the F/A-18 airframe will require replacement so it is a good plan. The F-22 is not replacing all of the F/A-18 just some, it is a pure fighter, most will be replaced by the f/A-35 Strike Fighter which has the ground attack mission into it's development.

Answer 3

The F/A-18, like the F-15 is an old design and is nolonger the state of the art weapons platform that we need to continue our protective curtain against our enemies. The F/A-18 was a design of the 1970s. We've found it necessary to enlarge it, modify it and continuously upgrade the elctronics systems as well as engines. It takes years to actually get a design off the drawing board and into the air and still longer to work out all of the bugs and get it into an operational status. By the time it is what you want, you start running into metal fatigue. It get's old, worn down and in need of replacement. Prior to WW II, our mindset was (as you suggest) "Why waste the money?" Our state of the art fighters were almost ten years behind that of our enemies -- and it cost us dearly. The F-4U "Corsair" was a design of the late 1930s. It didn't become operational until (essentially) 1943. It was tough and could absorb a lot of battle damage, but it was also a nightmare to work on in the field. We need to continually look ahead, otherwise, we're only falling behind.

Answer 4

First none of those jets have the same capabilities.
Second no other country in the world has the F-22 (yet)

so yes it was necessary, and when congress agrees to sell these jets to Israel, like we did with the F-4, F-14, F-15, F-18, ect,ect, we'll need to develope another.

Our pilots could never get the combat time EVERY Isreali airforce pilot has so we need better equiptment

Answer 5

Because there is a very long lead time for developing and deploying planes, you have to start the process well before the present planes leave service. They're having problems with the F15's which are 20 and more years old and are definitely reaching the end of their safely usable lives and we need something to replace them.

Answer 6

Because they are aging airframes. Look at just recently when the ENTIRE F-15 fleet was grounded. You can only upgrade so much to an original airframe, before you have to move on. If we sat back on our laurels, we would soon have an outdated attack force, and our enemies would have the advantage. You must ALWAYS progress.

By the way, to whoever said that, we DO already have a stealth fighter, in the F-117. What do you think the F stands for?
EDIT: Submariner, I AM an Air Force guy, AND I work on planes. Although you are somewhat right about it's capabilities being limited, it is still a Fighter.

Answer 7

The problem is with the latest SA and AA missles. The Russians, Chinese and others already have missles that can outfly the pilots. The latest missles can even tell the difference between chaff, flares and the airplane. Also the Chinese are working on their own stealth fighter which should see service around 2020.

Answer 8

Both designs are at least 30 + years old.Also both are almost at the end of their total flight hours. They are also almost worn out from the first desert storm conflict and the current air war in the gulf.All these sorties have really worn these birds down.It is time for their replacement,their technology has long past its time.

Answer 9

Not an answer to your question but I recently talked to an F-117A Stealth pilot and they are mothballing the Stealth. To be replaced by F-22 in a year or two at Holloman AFB, NM.