FY2010 Defense Budget recommendation highlights:
"We will end production of the F-22 fighter at 187 – representing 183 planes plus four recommended for inclusion in the FY 2009 supplemental."
"To replace the Air Force’s aging tanker fleet, we will maintain the KC-X aerial re-fueling tanker schedule and funding, with the intent to solicit bids this summer."
"With regard to air lift, we will complete production of the C-17 airlifter program this fiscal year. Our analysis concludes that we have enough C-17s with the 205 already in the force and currently in production."
"I will recommend increasing the buy of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter from the 14 aircraft bought in FY09 to 30 in FY10, with corresponding funding increases from $6.8 billion to $11.2 billion. We would plan to buy 513 F-35s over the five-year defense plan, and, ultimately, plan to buy 2,443. For naval aviation, we will buy 31 FA-18s in FY10."
3. We will end production of the F-22 fighter at 187 – representing 183 planes plus four recommended for inclusion in the FY 2009 supplemental.
So these are the principal recommendations I will make to the president. There are a number of others that I have not mentioned, including classified programs.
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Poster Comment:
I strongly disagree with the early termination of the F-22 program: the F-22 can fly in to combat and expend ALL of its' ordnance and fly out without being seen by any enemy fighter jet. By the time you station a few in Alaska, Japan, Europe and the Lower 48, 187 fighters don't cover much territory.