Want to bet we wouldn't have an issue with China if we went to war? They currently have highly developed anti-ship missiles that could disable carrier groups quickly, as well as hundreds of ballistic missiles aimed at the forward airbases that the F-22 would have to operate out of. Once the planes are in the air we would be fine, but in war game scenarios with Russia, the Su-30 easily denied the F-35 access to refueling, there is no reason to believe the Chinese could not do so as well.
And I give you that the F-35 is more flexible. But the F-35 is far more vulnerable to current planes in unfriendly nations arsenals than the F-22. Perhaps a modified F-22 (which would need to be created) is the way to approach this.
Well a war in Taiwan is a war with China. I personally think we will see minor interventions and some wars like Iraq, but I think as China rises and Russia attempts to rise we will see confrontation with them. Maybe short of all out war, but situations in which we do not want an Army geared towards fighting a war like Afghanistan.
Both of those scenarios, air to air will be crucial. The Su-30 and the JX-11 are going to challenge the F22 for air superiority, granted the Su-30 would lose right now. Either way, I think we are gearing up for more of a Cold War scenario in a multipolar world.
I would get rid of the rest of the stimulus that has not been spent. I would free up a lot of cash by cutting domestic programs.
In reality, all I am saying is that we ought to keep the assembly line going. The budget only had $1.75 billion for that. When you compare that to other spending that is nothing.
Well, the F-22 does cost a lot, but it would cost a ton more to have to redo factories to build them after the line closes.
