Lawmakers who take opposite views on the need for the F-22 Raptor agreed on one thing during Thursday’s Center for Strategic and International Studies program on tactical aviation issues—the decision to limit the buy to 187 aircraft appears devoid of strategic analysis. Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.), in whose state the F-22 is assembled, agreed with two retired military aviators (see above), saying the cuts were “purely budget-driven choices made without any analysis of the risk” to national strategy. Even Rep. Joe Sestak (D-Pa.), an F-22 critic, said he was dismayed that “the strategic template for ‘why?’ was missing” from the April 6 announcements.
A Golden Dome task force established under U.S. Northern Command earlier this year has a broad remit, which includes fielding the capability to defend the U.S. against missile and drone attacks, its leaders said this week. Some of the primary focuses right now are ensuring Golden Dome can defend itself…