Production phase out of the F-22 in fiscal year 2011

[tva2]

Just in on cnn and foxnews

Secretary Gates calls for the production stop of the F-22 fighter and the cancellation of the proposed HMX-1 replacement program.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/first10 ... -programs/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://edition.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/04 ... ef=24hours" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Info credit & copyright (c) 2009 cnn / foxnews

added info
http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/20 ... -down.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Info credit & copyright (c) Flightglobal.com

[Mark B.]

There is also more positive news:

"Gates claims that tactical air superiority can be maintained by accelerating F-35 purchases, investing $11.2 billion next year to buy 30 low-rate initial production aircraft. The DOD would also buy 513 F-35s over the next five years, much faster than previously planned."

Dutch politicians: please pay attention, this is good news!!

[Reaper]

From Alert5.com:

Gates unveils defense budget
The F-22, C-17, CSAR-X and Next-Generation Bomber were the biggest losers as U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates released his defense budget on Monday.

The F-22 will stop at 187 aircraft and the USAF will get only 205 C-17s. Another 31 F/A-18s will be added to the U.S. Navy though.

[tva2]

Added info
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsart ... x?id=53812" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i= ... =AME&s=LAN" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Info Credit & Copyright (c) U.S. Department of Defense / defensenews.com

[tva2]

...Budget Press Briefing (Arlington, VA)
As Prepared for Delivery by Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates, Arlington, VA, Monday, April 06, 2009...

http://www.defenselink.mil/speeches/spe ... echid=1341" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Info Credit & Copyright (c) 2009 U.S Department of Defense

[Richard from Rotterdam]

So much for the EH-101 in US military service then...


First, I recommend that we terminate the VH-71 presidential helicopter:
• This program was originally designed to provide 23 helicopters to support the president at a cost of $6.5 billion. Today, the program is estimated to cost over $13 billion, has fallen six years behind schedule, and runs the risk of not delivering the requested capability.
• Some have suggested that we should adjust the program by buying only the lower capability “increment one” option. I believe this is neither advisable nor affordable. Increment One helicopters do not meet requirements and are estimated to have only a five- to 10-year useful life. This compares to the current VH-3 presidential helicopters that are 30 to 40 years old.
• We will promptly develop options for an FY11 follow-on program.