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The QDR Caps Raptor:


Audio of this article is brought to you by the Air & Space Forces Association, honoring and supporting our Airmen, Guardians, and their families. Find out more at afa.org

Senior Air Force officials say they were given a $15 billion budget cut across 2007-11, leaving them with scant room to wiggle. There will be personnel cuts (see below). And, the service will buy only 183 F/A-22 Raptors (number corrected from 185 following official USAF briefing on 12/13/05). The fighters will cost more per unit because the service must extend production by two years to 2010 to create a bridge to F-35 Joint Strike Fighter production. All four services are taking cuts, but they all agreed USAF must buy fifth generation fighters. Say goodbye to the FB-22 bomber variant, however. Watch this space for more QDR news.

Audio of this article is brought to you by the Air & Space Forces Association, honoring and supporting our Airmen, Guardians, and their families. Find out more at afa.org