The cost of restarting the F-22 production line outweighs the benefits, Air Combat Command chief Gen. Hawk Carlisle, said Wednesday at ASC16. He noted the F-22 components would need to be upgraded if the line was restarted, an effort that would cost time and money. “If we looked at those costs versus what we wouldn’t be able to do, i.e., keeping up the F-35 line or moving to what is next in a penetrating, counter-air capability …outweighs the time and amount of money you would spend to reopen an F-22 line,” he said. Carlisle said he sees maintaining the buy rate of the F-35s as high as possible as the most important part of the program so the service benefits from the capacity. (Read more about the service’s Air Superiority 2030 study in the Aperture column in the May issue of Air Force Magazine.)
U.S. Air Force F-15C Eagles have roared out of Barnes Air National Guard Base, Mass., for the last time. The 104th Fighter Wing’s last three F-15Cs departed the base Oct. 23 for the “Boneyard” at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., ending the aircraft's era on the frontlines of homeland defense.
