Keeping the F-22 Credible Through 2030 Will Cost At Least $9 Billion, USAF Leaders Say
April 4, 2023 | By John A. Tirpak
Preserving the F-22 Raptor‘s ability to prevail in air combat through the end of the decade will cost more than $9 billion, and that figure depends on lawmakers allowing the Air Force to divest 32 of the oldest fighters, according to budget documents, service spokespersons and USAF leadership’s Congressional testimony.
But if Congress doesn’t allow the retirements—an action took in last year’s budget—the Air Force will have to rethink not only its F-22 plans but the Next-Generation Air Dominance program as well, since all the savings the service expects to reap from not operating, maintaining, or upgrading those 32 aircraft went into the NGAD account, senior officials said.
“Our budget assumes the success of that proposal” to retire the oldest F-22s, Air Force acquisition executive Andrew Hunter told the House Armed Services Committee’s tactical aviation panel in March 29 testimony.
https://www.airandspaceforces.com/f-22-credible-9-billion-air-force/
