A Cold Front Is Approaching: Are budget pressures endangering major aircraft programs? Surprisingly, Levin says no. He does not believe that termination awaits either the Air Force’s F/A-22 Raptor or the multi-service F-35 Fighter. Moreover, he does not believe the F/A-22 would be “reduced further,” though the F-35 could get a shave. Levin did not address the Air Force push to actually increase the F/A-22 production run to 381 aircraft.
A combined Navy and Air Force program is seeking to build a smaller version of a ubiquitous air-to-air missile that could give advanced aircraft, such as the Collaborative Combat Aircraft, greater magazine depth in a high-end fight.