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.
The Air Force is accelerating its plans to field an MQ-9A replacement in the wake of heavy Reaper losses in operations against Iran, top officials said Sept. 3, and they’re targeting a price point of just $10 million per aircraft.
