During a recent cable TV interview program, Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.) gave Rumsfeld an opportunity to speak highly of the F/A-22, but the SECDEF demurred. Rumsfeld faint-praised the Raptor, calling it “a fine airplane.” He said money will dictate the size of the F/A-22 buy, and he noted that it had to compete with rivals such as the Joint Strike Fighter, which, of course, has a far different mission and far less capability than the F/A-22.
F-35As from the Vermont Air National Guard have deployed to Puerto Rico in recent days, continuing a major buildup of U.S. Air Force assets in Latin America aimed at combating drug trafficking and pressuring the regime of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.
