When the assembly line shuts down, it is not going to be restarted. Make no mistake, this means the program is dead. Additionally, our current F-22 fleet would be unable to survive in a confrontation with China. This is something we need to avoid.
That said, if we already have jets, why do we need 2400 F35's?
What conflicts do you anticipate in the future?
I agree that sadly the F-22 is a low priority at the moment. I think that it should not be however. I am not advocating that we build 1000 of them, but we should keep the assembly line open.
Our spending does not mean we are invincible. 9/11 did not even cost $100,000 and it caused billions upon billions in damage. Spending levels should not be a gauge for security. Further, in multiple war scenarios we have run, we have struggled against nations with spending that is much less.
If the solution to this is to cut spending and eliminate our best weapon systems then so be. I just do not think that is the solution.
Sadly the Pentagon seems to disagree. There is a rising threat in my mind, and we are downgrading to fight wars like Iraq. I think this is a big mistake.
