The last F-22

[james84]

http://theaviationist.com/2012/05/03/final-f22/

[MIKE JG]

Last month's Combat Aircraft Monthly had a particularly interesting article regarding the final F-22 being built and whether or not enough of them were built.

When you factor in the development cost, the cost of all the tooling and assembly line stuff, training for the pilots and maintainers and then figure in that at any given time, only about 150 Raptors are available for duty, it's a complete embarrassment IMO.

What's worse is that the current F-35 fiasco makes the Raptor fiasco look like a diamond in the rough.

The Raptor doesn't even use the latest air to air IR missile in the inventory, the AIM-9X. It will be several years before it is equipped to be able to carry that missile. It does not have helmet mounted targeting like most fighters today. It does not have Link16 like most NATO fighters today, it can only datalink with other Raptors. It can drop PGB's but it lacks its own independent targeting pod. It is proving incredibly costly, both in money and man hours to maintain.

Just think how good it would be if it had all that. Oh wait, that would make it an F-35!

[Victory103]

It is sad, every other front-line fighter, including the A-10 now, have some form of both ATP and HMD. At least they look good at airshows!

[MIKE JG]

What few airshows that they will appear at this year.