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.
The U.S. military is maintaining a beefed-up presence in the Middle East, including fighters and air defense assets, following the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities June 22 and subsequent retaliation by the Iranians against Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.
