http://n.yam.com/afp/international/200812/20081228114376.html
日本可能放棄購買美國F-22隱形戰鬥機  
法新社╱楊一峰 2008-12-28 15:20    

 
（法新社東京28日電）日本「讀賣新聞」（Yomiuri）今天報導，日本可能放棄向美國購買先進的猛禽F-22隱形戰鬥機，因為日本預期美國將停產這型戰鬥機。

儘管美國不願意，日本政府一直嚐試說服美國出售F-22隱形戰鬥機給日本，以汰換老舊的F-15戰鬥機隊。

不過讀賣新聞引述政府官員的話說，日本將放棄這項計劃，因為跡象顯示，美國總統當選人歐巴馬的新政府可能停產這種飛機。

讀賣新聞引述防衛廳一名高階官員的話說：「我們有一種確實的印象：這型飛機可能停產。」

美國國防部長蓋茨（Robert Gates）曾公開表示，他贊成停止生產F-22戰鬥機。蓋茨已獲任命，在歐馬巴的新政府中續任國防部長。

據說，由於金融危機與稅收減少，美國也懷疑是否應繼續生產這種昂貴的飛機。美國法律也禁止輸出這種飛機。

讀賣新聞說，日本的可能替代選擇是，購買歐洲生產的颱風式戰鬥機，這種戰鬥機由北大西洋公約組織（NATO）成員國的英國，義大利，西班牙與德國共同研發。

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20081228/wl_asia_afp/japanusmilitary_081228031752
Japan likely to drop plan to buy F-22 fighters: report

Sat Dec 27, 10:17 pm ET

TOKYO (AFP) – Japan is likely to drop its attempts to buy state-of-the-art US F-22 Raptor stealth fighter planes since it expects the United States to stop producing them, a newspaper reported on Sunday.

The Japanese government had been trying to persuade the United States to sell it F-22 Raptors to replace its own aging F-15 fleet, despite Washington's reluctance.

Tokyo, however, is now abandoning the plan amid signs that US President-elect Barack Obama's new administration may halt production of the aircraft, the Daily Yomiuri said, quoting government sources.

"We have a firm impression that its production likely would be halted," a high-ranking official at the defence ministry was quoted by the daily as saying.

US Defense Secretary Robert Gates, reappointed to stay in the post under Obama, has said publicly that he favours halting production of the F-22.

Washington is also said to be skeptical about continuing production of the expensive planes due to the financial crisis and declining tax revenues.

US law prohibits export of Raptors as Congress remains anxious over the possible leaking of details of the Raptor's state-of-the-art technology. They are built to evade radar detection at supersonic speeds.

Japan's possible alternatives are the Eurofighter Typhoon, jointly developed by NATO members Britain, Italy, Spain and Germany, said the English version of the Yomiuri Shimbun.

Among other candidates are the US fighter F-15FX and the F-35 Lightning II, produced by the United States, Britain and other countries, it reported.

Some ministry officials favor the F-35, a high-performance fighter with sophisticated bombing capabilities, but this plane has not even been deployed so far by US forces, the daily said.

Japan has been officially pacifist since its defeat in World War II but has one of the world's largest defence budgets and is gradually expanding its military role.

http://big5.xinhuanet.com/gate/big5/news.xinhuanet.com/mil/2008-12/19/content_10528748.htm
美國為"猛禽"戰機找出路,出口禁令將被廢? 
2008年12月19日 16:47:30 　來源：國際在線 

 
    美軍消費不起，以色列卻急著購買，出口禁令可能打破

    16日，洛克希德·馬丁公司對路透社記者表示，F-22“猛禽”隱形戰鬥機可以充當核威懾的作用。近日來，有關F-22隱形戰鬥機的發展前途問題成為各方討論的焦點。由于其價格高昂，加上美國防部長蓋茨也質疑它的適用性，五角大樓有可能削減F-22項目的預算，並考慮是否取消該項目。而另一方面，以色列國防部官員對媒體公開表示，如果美國能夠打破禁令，出口F-22戰機，以色列空軍不管其價格多少，將盡快採購。

    F-22戰機是否再生產

    美軍參謀長聯席會議主席馬倫近日表示，“我們已經擁有了F-22戰鬥機，現在的問題是，我們將來到底需要多少架F-22。壓縮預算，盡可能地削減開支，這對國防部以及所有美國人都非常重要。對于我們曾經投入的這項開支巨大的計劃，我感到非常失望。”

    美國為“猛禽”項目已耗資650億美元，每架F-22戰鬥機加上研制和部署費用，成本高達3.5億美元。美國空軍共訂購了183架F-22，根據協議，制造商洛-馬公司將在2010年完成定購戰機的組裝工作。但是如果沒有新的訂單，洛-馬公司將被迫關閉生產線，數千名工作人員將因此失業。洛馬公司一直在尋求新的訂單，該公司有關負責人16日再次強調F-22的威力,他說：“在我看來，能夠替代美國戰略核威懾的只有F-22戰機。”F-22配備了主動相控陣雷達，具備超音速巡航能力，可超視距作戰，具備高機動性，能躲避雷達與紅外線追蹤，隱身性很強。據估計其作戰能力為現役F-15的2到4倍。

    一些支持F-22計劃的人士也表示，由于俄制戰鬥機性能不斷提高，美國需要裝備更多的F-22戰鬥機，以繼續在未來戰爭中牢牢掌握制空權。一些國會議員還表示，軍方應慎重考慮停止訂購F-22戰鬥機計劃，至少目前不應該停止訂購這種目前最先進的戰鬥機，以保護與飛機制造業相關產業數以千計的工作崗位。　

    多國在等待美國解禁

    據悉，美國空軍正考慮增加購買60架F-22，空軍官員稱，增購F-22是為了對付美國的潛在戰略對手——中國。15日，以色列國防部一位官員對記者說，美國空軍增購60架F-22戰機，將會推動美國國會結束對該機的出口限制。以色列將會在美國新政府上任後，再次展開遊說活動，以便美國政府早日批準該戰機的出口。

    由于“猛禽”採用的技術極為敏感和先進，美國為了防止這些技術流落到他們認為的敵對國家手裏，制定了相關法律並嚴格禁止該機的出口。但目前美國面臨的難題是：如果不打破禁令出口F-22，不但每架高達3.5億美元的採購價格難以承受，而且因採購數量少，生產商不得不裁員。目前對F-22表示強烈興趣的國家除了以色列，還有日本、澳大利亞、韓國等。現在以色列放出話說，無論多少錢，都願意買，在美國自己不能增加更多訂單的情況下，這很可能推動美國國會對F-22戰鬥機出口解禁。

    事實上，美國國防部長蓋茨最近訪問澳大利亞時就曾暗示說，美國國會可能會重新考慮外銷F-22的禁令：“為確保美國在亞太地區的威懾作用，美國將不得不考慮出售某種版本的F-22給亞太的盟友，比如說日本、澳大利亞和印度。”

    分析人士認為，由于多國盟友的強烈需求，加之美國軍工生產企業不斷進行公關活動，出于現實利益考慮，美國國會對F-22的出口解禁只是早晚的事。而且美國空軍也用F-22在西太平洋地區加強了威懾態勢。據美空軍網站16日報道，美空軍準備明年1月在日本和關島分別部署12架F-22戰機，部署時間大約為3個月。

http://big5.xinhuanet.com/gate/big5/news.xinhuanet.com/mil/2008-12/18/content_10522183.htm
美軍將再次在日本臨時部署F－22型戰機 
2008年12月18日 09:00:33 　來源：新華網 

    新華網東京12月17日電（記者 劉讚）位于日本衝繩縣的美軍嘉手納基地新聞處17日宣布，駐日美軍將于明年年初再次在該基地臨時部署F-22“猛禽”隱形戰鬥機。

    嘉手納基地新聞處說，此次部署在該基地的F-22戰機共有12架，均來自駐扎在美國弗吉尼亞州蘭利空軍基地的美空軍第27戰鬥機中隊。另有約250名美軍士兵將被同時派遣到日本。

    嘉手納基地新聞處說，此次臨時部署F-22戰機的目的是履行美軍在西太平洋地區的安全職責，並顯示美國確保整個太平洋安全穩定的決心。

    這將是F-22戰機第二次被臨時部署到日本。去年2月至5月，12架Ｆ－22戰機被臨時部署到嘉手納基地，成為這種戰鬥機首次在美國本土以外部署。部署在日本期間，這些戰機還與日本自衛隊舉行了聯合軍事演習。

    F-22“猛禽”戰鬥機是美國洛克希德—馬丁公司研制的重型戰鬥機，1997年首次試飛，2005年12月正式服役。該機是美軍最先進的戰鬥機之一，擁有隱形能力和極強的攻擊能力，而且同時具備超音速巡航能力和高機動性，巡航時速可達1609公裏。

http://n.yam.com/cna/international/200812/20081217728229.html
維護亞太安定 美將再派遣隱形戰機駐紮琉球 
中央社╱中央社 2008-12-17 17:47
    
（中央社記者張芳明東京17日專電）美國駐琉球嘉手納空軍基地今天宣佈，為達成對日本的責任以及維護亞太地區穩定，美國將在明年1月由美國本土派遣12架F-22A猛禽式隱形戰鬥機駐紮在這個美軍基地約3個月。

美國軍方指出，12架F-22A猛禽式戰鬥機和250名官兵將於明年1月，由美國維吉尼亞州的一處空軍基地派駐嘉手納空軍基地，駐紮3個月。這將是繼去年2月至5月的首次部署之後，再次派駐這個美軍在遠東的最大空軍基地。

美軍說明在嘉手納基地再次有期限部署猛禽式戰鬥機的理由指出，美國是為達成對日本的責任，以及表明確保整個太平洋地區安定和安全的決心。美軍並將另外派遣12架猛禽式戰鬥機駐紮關島安德森基地。

美國於去年2月至5月派駐12架猛禽式戰鬥機駐紮琉球，是這種美國最先進的隱形戰鬥機首次派駐海外，在部署嘉手納基地期間曾和日本航空自衛隊從事聯合訓練，並進行580次以上的飛行訓練。

F-22A猛禽式戰鬥機有不易被雷達偵察到的隱形功能，且在超音速之下具有高度的空戰和對地面攻擊的能力，日本看中這種極優秀的戰鬥機，希望作為新一代的主力戰鬥機，但由於美國基於保護機密而不同意將這種戰鬥機出售給外國，使得日本未能如願，防衛省迄今尚未能決定下一代主力戰機的機種。

http://www.kadena.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123128377
F-22As scheduled to deploy to Kadena

18th Wing Public Affairs

12/16/2008 - KADENA AIR BASE, Japan -- The U.S. Air Force is scheduled to deploy 12 F-22A Raptors to Kadena Air Base in January 2009 for approximately three months in support of U.S. Pacific Command's security obligations in the Western Pacific.

These deployments underscore the U.S. commitment to Japan as a vital regional partner and signal U.S. resolve to ensure stability and security throughout the Pacific region.

The aircraft, along with about 250 personnel, will deploy from Langley Air Force Base, Virginia and are part of the 27th Fighter Squadron. This is the second deployment of Langley-based F-22s to Kadena, the first one occurring in February 2007.

The F-22A is a transformational combat aircraft that can avoid enemy detection, cruise at supersonic speeds, is highly maneuverable, and provides the joint force an unprecedented level of integrated situational awareness.

As part of continuing force posture adjustments to address worldwide requirements, the United States continues to deploy additional forces throughout the Western Pacific. In addition to the F-22As deploying to Kadena, another 12 will deploy to Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, from Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska.

While training at Kadena, the F-22As will fully observe all 18th Wing noise abatement measures, including established quiet hours. For operational security reasons, the exact scheduled arrival dates will not be announced until next month.

http://mil.news.sina.com.cn/p/2008-12-17/0807535159.html
美國空軍稱為對付中國需要再增購60架F-22A
http://www.sina.com.cn  2008年12月17日 08:07  中青線上-青年參考

 
　　本報特約記者　徐冰川

　　縮減開支和創造就業機會，是奧巴馬面臨的兩大難題，而F-22“猛禽”戰鬥機生產計畫，更是集這兩大難題於一身。美國空軍向國會表示，希望在3年內增購60架F-22戰鬥機，總價值約為90億美元。為推動“猛禽”的採購計畫，美空軍甚至打出中國牌，稱增購F-22是為了對付中國。F-22的採購計畫，必將成為奧巴馬的一塊“燙手山芋”。美國《基因斯維爾太陽報》12月10日對此進行了報導。

　　243架F-22組超強“猛禽”機隊

　　美國空軍官員說，他們希望國會批准增加60架F-22的生產計畫。他們向國會抱怨說急需更多的F-22，來組建更高效的空中打擊力量。F-15戰鬥機已服役近30年，而新銳的F-35正式列裝還遙遙無期。此外，為了強調增產F-22的必要性，美國軍方又開始打“中國牌”。一位美軍方高層人士指出，中國和俄羅斯都在向一些小國出售地對空導彈防禦系統，因此我們需要“裝備F-22戰鬥機來對付那些新對手”。另據法新社11日報導，美國空軍官員稱，大量採購F-22戰鬥機是為了對付潛在對手——中國。即使發生大規模戰爭的幾率非常微小，但國家必須為此做好準備。

　　F-22的飛行高度大於其他戰機，能在更高空域執行作戰任務，還可以更輕鬆地進行超音速巡航。其特有的塗層還能使雷達波產生不規則反射，敵方雷達很難捕捉到蹤跡。憑藉優良的機動性能和超強隱身能力，F-22戰鬥機可輕易地進行滲透，對敵防空導彈系統進行毀滅性打擊，為己方轟炸機和其他型號作戰飛機開闢道路。

　　一旦國會通過60架F-22的增產議案，美國空軍的“猛禽”機隊，就會變成擁有243架世界頂級隱形戰機的超強空中打擊力量。

　　蓋茨反對F-22增產

　　雖然美國空軍胃口大開，但想順利通過這一計畫還困難重重。“猛禽”這種昂貴的戰鬥機其實是一種“冷戰兵器”，原本是為保持對蘇聯的空中優勢而設計製造的。隨著五角大樓的注意力逐漸轉移到打擊恐怖分子上來，很多評論家，甚至包括兩任防長拉姆斯菲爾德和蓋茨在內，都批評空軍在F-22戰鬥機項目上花得太多，反對大量增加生產。

　　一些軍事評論家也對裝備F-22毫無熱情，他們認為美國軍方應該把更多的資源，用於打擊伊拉克和阿富汗武裝分子的暴動。現任防長蓋茨對F-22計畫尤為不滿，他曾公開宣稱“現在趨勢是面對未來戰爭，更需要適應未來衝突的裝備”，而不是那些笨重的坦克和裝甲部隊。蓋茨壓縮了重型裝備的採購數量，並認為反地雷防伏擊裝甲車和無人機才是最好選擇，無人機可以進行戰場監控和偵察，並可以直接發射導彈打擊恐怖分子。

　　保就業還是省開支？

　　雖然蓋茨對F-22的增產計畫持否定態度，但美國空軍並不想就此放棄，空軍不斷加大對奧巴馬班底的遊說力度，同時在國會內部爭取支持，試圖擴大影響力。

　　最近美國參眾兩院防務撥款委員會主席和共和黨要員向蓋茨寫信，表明他們支持F-22增產計畫，他們警告：“在經濟不景氣的情況下，國家最急需的是保證就業崗位。”一些大的軍火企業，尤其是飛機製造企業涉及近44個州的1000個零件供應商，一旦訂單不足，勢必造成大量員工失業。支持F-22戰鬥機增產計畫的人，認為奧巴馬應該繼續擴充F-22的產量，至少是暫時保證F-22生產線的正常運轉，這樣就可以保住飛機製造工人的飯碗。生產單價高達1.43億美元的F-22戰鬥機，確實可以帶動很多人就業。

　　民主黨的諾曼•迪克斯是國會防務撥款委員會成員，他說“要繼續生產F-22”，但也承認：“支持F-22計畫將使財政吃緊。因為每個月還要在戰場上投入120～150億美元，補充兵員和裝備把我們弄得精疲力竭，此外還需要對空軍、海軍和陸軍進行現代化改造。”

　　到目前為止，奧巴馬還沒有明確的防務計畫，防務專家們預測，奧巴馬會在2009年初作出最終決定。美國資深分析家惠勒也指出：“F-22戰鬥機計畫將會是奧巴馬總統面臨的第一個考驗，奧巴馬必須考慮是否按照慣例支持商業運作，或是為五角大樓帶來更多的改變。”

http://big5.xinhuanet.com/gate/big5/news.xinhuanet.com/mil/2008-12/11/content_10489049.htm
美國空軍高層要求增購60架F-22對付中國 
2008年12月11日 16:21:34 　來源：環球時報•環球網

    據法新社2008年12月11日報道，美國空軍高層要增訂60架F-22戰鬥機，並稱增訂F-22戰鬥機主要是為了對付美國的潛在對手——中國。

     美國參謀長聯席會議主席邁克爾-馬倫在12月10日表示，“這一計劃對于我們來說非常重要，在國防部內部更是這樣，削減預算使我們不知所措。”談到F-22的採購計劃，馬倫強調說，“問題是我們需要它嗎？當然，我們需要。現在的問題是，我們到底需要多少？我對這項昂貴的採購計劃十分關心。”

    美國空軍已經獲準採購183架F-22戰鬥機，又再要求再追加60架。F-22的採購計劃已經耗費了650億美元，因為每架F-22戰鬥機的造價高達3.5億美元。但是美國空軍官員稱，大量採購F-22戰鬥機是為了對付美國的潛在對手——中國。此外，一些美國國會議員也不願意終止這一採購計劃，因為繼續生產F-22戰鬥機能給美國創造很多就業機會。

    洛克希德馬丁公司生產的F-22“猛禽”戰鬥機是典型的冷戰兵器，包括美國國防部長羅伯特-蓋茨在內的一些軍方人士和評論家認為，F-22戰鬥機並不適合美國在伊拉克和阿富汗反恐戰爭的需要。（徐冰川/落暉）

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20081211/pl_afp/usmilitarybudgetweapons_081211002435;_ylt=AlUuoS9Fq1I6sRwO4JCk7vCsOrgF
Top US military officer raises doubts over F-22 jet program

Wed Dec 10, 7:24 pm ET

WASHINGTON (AFP) – The top US military officer raised doubts Wednesday over the future of the costly F-22 fighter jet program, noting that the economic downturn could force the Pentagon to make budget cuts.

The Lockheed Martin/Boeing F-22 Raptor, conceived during the Cold War, is considered by its critics -- including Defense Secretary Robert Gates -- to be ill-adapted for use in irregular conflicts like Iraq and Afghanistan.

"It's important for all of us -- in the Defense Department too -- to squeeze our budgets, to draw in where we can," Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Michael Mullen told reporters at the Pentagon.

"I'm obviously discouraged by the lack of cost control that we've got in so many of our programs," Mullen said. "We are going to have to get a grip on that or we will not be able to buy them."

Concerning the F-22, "it's not a matter of, do we need it? We have it," said Mullen. "It's a question of, how many do we need for the future?"

"I am concerned that it is such an expensive system," he said, adding that the Air Force is seeking another 60 above the 183 F-22s they currently have.

The program has already cost more than 65 billion dollars -- each F-22 costs 350 million dollars.

Top US air force officials however defend the program by saying the fighter jets are well adapted for use against potential US rivals such as China.

Key members of Congress are also reluctant to end the program, as it is the source of thousands of jobs across the United States.

"I think ... in the aviation world, our future is in the Joint Strike Fighter," Mullen said.

He was referring to the Lockheed Martin F-35, designed to replace the F-16 fighter, widely used in the Air Force. But the program, which also involves several other countries, also suffers from delays and over costs.

The Pentagon plans to buy some 2,400 Joint Strike Fighters through 2027.

http://mil.news.sina.com.cn/p/2008-11-24/0849531529.html
美空軍擬花80億美元對百架F-22進行小規模升級
http://www.sina.com.cn  2008年11月24日 08:49  東方網

　　據美國軍事專刊《國防新聞》11月20日報導，五角大樓採辦主管約翰-楊稱，美國空軍擬將花費80億美元用於升級100架F-22戰機。

　　約翰-楊20日在華盛頓對記者稱，這筆資金將用於創建和安裝更加先進的軟體，以及其他並未確定的修整。這項計畫已經被列入2010年的國防開支藍圖，並將交由即將上任的奧巴馬政府審批。

　　楊表達了對於此次重金升級的關注，他說：“空軍此次升級100架戰機的計畫只是一項小規模的整改。”一天以前，布希政府剛剛否決了1億4千萬美元20架F-22先期採購和飛機升級批准撥付資金的申請。

　　楊11月20日對記者表示，在下一任政府決定是否購買更多的F-22猛禽戰鬥機之前，國防部辦公室和空軍方面應該進一步慎重的討論這個方案。楊說：“那些討論需要在談論購買飛機之前進行，空軍和國防部真正需要的就是在作結論之前開展有必要的對話。”

　　據悉，奧巴馬的國防顧問包括一些瞭解F-22的專家，如前任空軍部長懷特-彼德斯、前任五角大樓採辦主任保羅-卡明斯克和雅克-蓋斯勒，這可能預示新政府將支持增購數批次F-22，以及投資同等重要的電子攻擊、電子戰和資訊戰升級。

　　11月12日，五角大樓曾發表聲明稱，國防部部長羅伯特-蓋茨和副部長戈登-英格蘭同意將F-22項目保持到下任國防部長上任之時，至於繼續生產F-22戰鬥機還是結束F-22項目都由下任國防部長決策。目前，美空軍獲准採購183架F-22戰鬥機，其中一些已經服役，另外一些仍在生產。現任國防部長蓋茨一直想結束F-22專案，但空軍方面表示需要裝備381架“猛禽”戰鬥機。(北斗)

http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=3830177&c=AIR&s=TOP
Young: 100 F-22s Need $8 Billion For Upgrades
By JOHN T. BENNETT
Published: 20 Nov 12:50 EST (17:50 GMT) 

Pentagon acquisition executive John Young says the U.S. Air Force will spend $8 billion to upgrade 100 F-22 fighters, which he said would be "lesser models" without the modifications.

The money, which will be used to create and install better software and make other unspecified modifications, is included in the 2010 defense spending blueprint that will be handed to the incoming Obama administration, Young told reporters during a Nov. 20 breakfast in Washington.

"The Air Force had planned and accepted to have a two-tiered structure where some of the earlier jets were not fully capable jets, not to the Block 35 configuration, which provides important capabilities. I think something like 100 jets would kind of be lesser models" under that plan, Young said. "One thing that's in the [2010 budget plan] is to bring more of that fleet to common, high-end, capable configuration. The cost of that is $6.3 billion of [research and development]."

He expressed concern about spending so much to upgrade the Air Force's prized fighter because "this is [for] a platform we've already developed."

His comments came one day after he was grilled for more than two hours by lawmakers about the Bush administration's decision to not follow Congress' direction to spend $140 million of advance procurement money on parts for 20 more F-22s, which would help bring the fleet to 203 Raptors.

Young told lawmakers that senior Pentagon officials, who decided to only spend $50 million of the funds made available in the 2009 Pentagon spending measures, were trying to save money in advance of an Obama administration decision about the program's future.

The Bush administration's Pentagon team has bristled at buying more than 183 of the Lockheed Martin-made fighters; the Air Force has long said it needs 381. The Bush defense team opted earlier this year to take steps to keep Raptor production going long enough to allow the next administration to decide whether more are needed.

Young told the panel on Nov. 19 that if the new administration decides to keep the program going, it can order $90 million more in parts for 16 more planes without any extra cost to taxpayers.

The next morning, he cautioned reporters that before the next administration decides whether to buy more Raptors, the Office of the Secretary of Defense and Air Force brass should seriously discuss issues like the needed upgrades to the 100 models that rolled off the production line first.

"Those discussions need to be had before you talk about buying more jets," he said. "That's really a requirements and capability discussion that Air Force and OSD has to have."

Expensive To Fly

But that's not all the next Pentagon leaders will have to debate about the super-secret Raptor, he said. He said operational tests have showed the plane is "proving very expensive to operate."

Those tests have shown what he called a negative trend, meaning the "maintenance man-hours per flying hour has increased through those tests. The last one was a substantial increase."

Young also expressed concerns about the plane's mission-capable rates, saying recent marks in the "62 percent kind of range" are "troubling." He also said data shows the plane "meets some but not all" of its key performance parameters."

"We're not seeing the mission-capable rates that we expected. And it's complex to maintain," Young told reporters. "I would highlight the maintenance on the plane is too high. They are struggling with some of the [low-observable features] and other issues."

A spokeswoman for Raptor-maker Lockheed had not yet returned a call seeking comment at time of this posting.

The bottom line, according to Young: "There is clearly some work that needs to be done there to make that airplane capable and affordable to operate."

http://mil.news.sina.com.cn/p/2008-11-18/0802530669.html
美防長稱F-22未在伊阿戰爭中發揮作用不願多買
http://www.sina.com.cn  2008年11月18日 08:02  中國航空信息網

　　據美國《防務新聞》網站2008年11月12日報導 面對美國國會就增加生產20架F-22戰鬥機的1.4億美元撥款未執行一事而施加的壓力，美國防部在11月12日僅同意為生產4架F-22戰鬥機支付金額5000萬美元。

　　眾議院武裝部隊委員會的某民主黨高級官員助理說：“國防部5000萬美元的撥款是一種折衷方案。”而來自阿克拉馬州的參議員James Inhofe則認為保持F-22的生產線開工應是國家安全的優先考慮。

　　Inhofe表示，為4架F-22戰鬥機的生產撥款5000萬美元將不能使F-22的生產線持續到下一任總統及其國防部長做出是否繼續購買“猛禽”戰鬥機決定之時。他堅信必須將F-22的生產線延續到F-35戰鬥機的生產線達到完全狀態之時。

　　眾議院武裝部隊委員會主席Ike Skelton的發言人稱，國會為F-22專案撥付充足資金的目的是想把F-22的生產線保持到下任總統上任之後，以便讓下屆政府來決定F-22的命運。她說：“國防部的最新提議是否能實現這一目的現在仍是一個未知數。”

　　來自喬治亞州的參議員Johnny Isakson說：“國防部沒有全部通過國會為F-22撥付的1.4億美元資金的決定，我感到非常失望。F-22是全球最優秀的戰鬥機，‘猛禽’的持續生產對我們國家的安全至關重要。”

　　據11月12日五角大樓發表的聲明稱，國防部部長Robert Gates和副部長Gordon England同意將F-22項目保持到下任國防部長上任之時，至於繼續生產F-22戰鬥機還是結束F-22項目則由下任國防部長進行決策。

　　目前，美空軍獲准採購183架F-22戰鬥機，其中一些已經服役，另外一些仍在生產。Gates早就想結束F-22專案，但是空軍欲最少裝備381架“猛禽”戰鬥機。

　　在最新簽署的“採辦決策備忘錄”中，五角大樓武器採購主管John Young認為，獲得4架F-22戰鬥機零部件的先期5000萬美元的採購資金，對於空軍來說已經向前邁進了一步。Young表示，空軍目前可支配的這5000萬美元為下屆政府在明年2月的決策搭建了橋樑。這也為明年1月20日就職美國下屆總統的奧巴馬及其國防部長決策是否繼續生產F-22戰鬥機留出了10天時間。

　　一位眾議院議員的助理稱，如果F-22項目結束了，這批用於購買F-22戰鬥機零部件的撥款可能部分地用於F-35聯合攻擊戰鬥機(JSF)。

　　以來自喬治亞州的Saxby Chambliss為首的參議員們警告稱，撥款少於1.4億美元和F-22的生產數量少於20架將導致供應商立刻停止與F-22相關的工作，開始關閉生產線和下崗25000高技術工人。

　　Gates沒有支持購買更多的F-22戰鬥機，而向國會指出：F-22作為美國空軍最新、最先進的戰鬥機在伊拉克戰爭和阿富汗戰爭中未發揮作用。(中國航空工業發展研究中心 蘇海軍)

http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=3818085&c=AIR&s=ALL
DoD Spends Less Than Lawmakers Want on F-22 Parts
By william matthews
Published: 12 Nov 17:25 EST (22:25 GMT) 

Under mounting pressure from Congress to spend $140 million to buy parts for 20 more F-22 jet fighters, the Defense Department agreed Nov. 12 to spend $50 million on parts for just four of the stealthy planes.

Reaction from Capitol Hill was mixed.

"It's sort of a [screw]-you answer," an aide to a senior Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee said of the $50 million spending plan.

Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla., contends that keeping the F-22 production line open "is a national security priority," an aide said.

Spending $50 million on parts for four F-22s will not keep the production line open long enough for the next president and his defense secretary to decide whether to continue buying Raptors, he said.

"Sen. Inhofe believes we must keep it open until the F-35 line is fully operational and producing combat-ready aircraft," which is expected to take at least five years, the aide said.

A spokeswoman for Rep. Ike Skelton, chairman of the Armed Services Committee, said Congressional intent is to spend enough money on the F-22 program to keep it alive until the next administration can decide its fate.

"It is not yet clear whether DoD's recent proposal will accomplish this goal," she said.

Sen. Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., said he is "deeply disappointed" by the Pentagon's decision not to spend the entire $140 million that Congress allocated for more F-22s.

The planes are the most sophisticated fighter jets in the world, he said, and their continued production "is essential to our national security."

F-22s are assembled in Marietta, Ga., by Lockheed Martin.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates and his deputy, Gordon England, have agreed to keep the F-22 program going long enough for the next defense secretary to decide whether to keep building planes or end the program, according to a Nov. 12 statement issued by the Pentagon.

The Air Force has 183 F-22s, some in service, others still under construction. Gates wanted to end the program at that number, but the Air Force wanted at least 381.

In a newly signed "acquisition decision memorandum," the Pentagon's top weapons buyer, John Young, instructs the Air Force to "take steps to spend up to $50 million in advanced procurement associated with four F-22 aircraft."

The money is to be used to buy aircraft parts, some of which - but not all - could be used on F-35 Joint Strike Fighters if the F-22 program is ended, a House aide said.

In written comments, Young said that Gates will include the rest of the funding for the four planes - estimated to be about $590 million - in an emergency war-funding bill that is expected to be sent to Congress in February.

Young said the $50 million he wants the Air Force to spend now will "provide a bridge to a January decision by the next administration."

That would give Barack Obama and his defense secretary 10 days after the Jan. 20 presidential inauguration to decide whether to keep building F-22s.

Young's acquisition memo comes nine days after six senators sent England a letter urging him "to obligate the entire $140 million for advance procurement on long-lead items for 20 aircraft."

The senators, led by Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., warned that spending less than $140 million and building fewer than 20 more planes "will cause suppliers to quickly stop F-22-related work, begin shutting down the lines and laying off" 25,000 high-tech workers.

The senators' letter followed on the heels of a letter by four members of the House Armed Services Committee that called the $140 million expenditure "a prudent and necessary action to sustain F-22A production."

Gates has not supported buying more F-22s and has pointed out to Congress that F-22s, the Air Force's newest and most advanced fighter aircraft, have played no role in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

http://mil.news.sina.com.cn/p/2008-11-18/0830530686.html
美空軍將申請購250-270架猛禽 裝備7-10個中隊
http://www.sina.com.cn  2008年11月18日 08:30  中國航空信息網

 
　　據美國《航空週刊與空間技術》網站2008年11月12日報導 美國空軍高層官員將很快向國會提交一份數量介於250到275架之間的F-22的新需求清單。

　　據美國航宇工業分析家分析，這是基於經濟實際情況的折衷方案，該數量少於空軍381架的需求量，但比目前的採購量183架要多。這樣可使美國空軍裝備7個中隊，每個中隊24架飛機(阿拉斯加州、弗吉尼亞州、新墨西哥州各2個中隊，夏威夷1個中隊)，或者是10個中隊，每個中隊18架飛機。

　　這一新的需求數字勢必遭到五角大樓高層官員的反對，如國防部副部長Gordon England以及採辦主任John Young。這兩個人還以節省成本為名試圖削減F-35的備選發動機專案，並且扣留國會為該發動機專案和20架F-22先期採購和飛機升級批准撥付的資金。

　　沒人知道當選總統奧巴馬最終的國防政策。不過奧巴馬的國防顧問包括一些瞭解F-22的專家，如前任空軍部長F. Whitten Peters、前任五角大樓採辦主任Paul Kaminski and Jacques Gansler，這可能預示新政府將支持增購數批次F-22，以及投資同等重要的電子攻擊、電子戰和資訊戰升級。

　　奧巴馬的立場可能介於現任國防部長蓋茨的集中關注現有戰爭政策及前任空軍部長Mike Wynne和退休的空軍參謀長Michael Moseley的為未來20年的戰爭而準備的政策之間。奧巴馬的一位顧問表示，奧巴馬的政策將比蓋茨更超前，但不會有Wynne和Moseley看得那麼遠。其政府有可能支持採購250架F-22。而加速發展F-35專案戰略的意義不大。(中國航空工業發展研究中心 吳蔚)

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_channel.jsp?channel=defense&id=news/F22-111208.xml
USAF Expected To Push F-22 Compromise

Nov 12, 2008
By David A. Fulghum
 
U.S. Air Force senior leadership will be returning soon to Congress to propose a new requirement for F-22 Raptors of between 250-275 aircraft, a cut of more than 100 F-22s in the service’s current baseline.

It is a compromise based on economic realities that is less than the service’s requirement of 381, but more than the current 183, according to aerospace industry analysts. That would allow the Air Force the options of fielding seven squadrons of 24 aircraft (two in Alaska, two in Virginia, one in Hawaii and two in New Mexico) or 10 squadrons of 18 aircraft if the service wants more squadrons and is willing to take the risk of having fewer backup aircraft.

“The Air Force is very close to a compromise between those two numbers,” says a participant in some of the discussions. “That’s not to say the requirement for 381 is not valid. But they’ve had to examine the fiscal realities and accept some [operational] risks by taking fewer than they want.”

That compromise number is sure to run into opposition from senior Pentagon officials such as Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England — considered the primary impediment to further F-22 production — as well as acquisition chief John Young. The pair have also tried to cut the alternative engine program for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter as a cost-savings measure and are withholding money that Congress approved for the engine and for advanced procurement of 20 more F-22s and upgrades, including advanced software packages.

Nobody has articulated President-elect Barack Obama’s final defense policy. But those involved in the transition say the lineup of Obama’s defense advisors — including several F-22-savvy members like former Air Force Secretary F. Whitten Peters and former Pentagon acquisition chiefs Paul Kaminski and Jacques Gansler — may indicate the new administration is likely to support production of several more lots of Raptors and, equally important, fund the classified electronic attack, electronic warfare and information warfare upgrades.

“The problem is that the programs of record aren’t properly funded,” a defense consultant says. “For example, cost overruns are often driven by the millions of lines of code that have to be developed. Obama’s team thinks that spiral upgrades of existing programs can avoid the software-related cost overruns with new programs.”

While awaiting a close examination of the Pentagon’s programs, the attraction to avoid new costs is creating an early inclination to support continued production of the F-22 and to reject a plan to accelerate the F-35 program at the Raptor’s expense.

“It won’t give you 10 squadrons of 24 aircraft, but it’s a sustainable force,” the consultant says. “Eighteen is possible if the aircraft has a very high utility rate.”

Obama’s stance is expected to fall between Defense Secretary Robert Gates’ policy of focusing intensely “on the war we have” and the stance of former Air Force Secretary Mike Wynne and retired Air Force chief Gen. T. Michael Moseley — both of whom Gates fired – of preparing for the war of 20 years from now.

“My guess is that Obama’s stance is going to be more progressive than Gates, but less futuristic than Wynne and Moseley,” the consultant says. “Chances are that they will go for a F-22 force of 250.”

England has called for ending production of the F-22 and pushing production of the F-35.

“That strategy of accelerating the F-35 program really doesn’t make sense,” the Obama consultant said. “It’s not a coherent theory to keep the Air Force modernized.”

http://mil.news.sina.com.cn/p/2008-11-18/0954530736.html
韓媒：美軍可能向朝鮮半島部署F-22A隱形戰機
http://www.sina.com.cn  2008年11月18日 09:54  環球時報

　　環球時報駐韓國特約記者沈松報導 據韓國《朝鮮日報》報導，駐韓美軍16日正式宣佈，美國決定從駐韓美軍“阿帕奇”直升機部隊中，撤走1個大隊(24架)用於伊拉克和阿富汗戰爭，並部署12架A-10對地攻擊機等作為替代戰力，今後還有可能在朝鮮半島部署最先進的F-22隱形戰鬥機。

　　據報導，韓國方面擔心在“阿帕奇”部隊撤走後出現戰力空白，對此，軍事專家稱，A-10攻擊機對地面的攻擊力遠比“阿帕奇”強，除了阻止朝鮮特種部隊滲透等特定任務外，基本上不會出現戰力空白。有分析認為，此舉顯示美國欲將目前以地面部隊為中心的駐韓部隊改造為以海空軍為中心。

　　報導稱，美國正在考慮如果以後再要把這次追加部署的A-10攻擊機撤回，就會在朝鮮半島追加部署1支F-16戰鬥機大隊(20多架)或臨時部署世界最強的F-22隱形戰鬥機。駐韓美軍第8軍司令、陸軍中將約瑟夫•皮爾當天在記者會上表示：“雖然目前尚不清楚A-10攻擊機何時被其他戰力替代，但今後會繼續向駐韓美軍提供同等水準的戰力。”