Still Nyet to More F-22s:
Despite the current woes of the F-35 strike fighter program, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said he remains opposed to the idea of building more F-22s, even as a hedge. “I don’t think there’s any need to go on with the F-22,” Gates told reporters on Monday when asked about this. Gates reaffirmed his opposition on Tuesday, confirming to Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.) during a budget hearing that he has no intention of revisiting the issue. At the same hearing, Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), said the emergence of the Russian fifth generation PAK FA fighter is also disconcerting when discussing the F-22 and F-35. The PAK FA flew for the first time last month. Inhofe said he’s worried that, “we’re down to 187 F-22s” and yet the Russians are “starting to crank [PAK FAs] out,” potentially in large numbers for its air force and export customers.
All of the U.S. military services are pursuing capabilities to complement GPS amid concerns that the constellation is increasingly vulnerable to interference, but a new government watchdog report calls for better coordination and prioritization among those efforts to avoid delays and duplication.
