The F/A-22 is a planned stealth fighter aircraft that began development in 1986. It is designed for air-to-air combat against hi-tech aircraft. The Office of the Secretary of Defense has asked for an additional $11.7 billion in "modernization funding" to repurpose the aircraft for bombing. This additional requirement was not part of the original plan, but added after the original misssion became largely irrelevant.
A joint study by Foreign Policy in Focus and Center for Defense Information designated the F/A-22 "the winner of the prize for single most irrelevant weapon program." The study found that the bombing requirements for the F/A-22 could be achieved with a savings of $4 billion per year by cancelling the F/A-22 program and using the Block 60 version of the F-16 instead.
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Last modified: Wed Mar 17 11:21:46 CST 2004