Design Flaws Force Changes to USAF Raptor

Posted on: Nov. 12th, 2007 || Source: defensenews.com | E-mail Article | Print Article

With a price tag of $130 million per F-22A Raptor — $330 million including research and development costs — critics wonder why millions more will have to be spent to fix corrosion problems and design flaws on some of the 104 stealth fighters delivered so far by manufacturer Lockheed Martin.

Leaky fuselage access panels at the top of the jet are leading to corrosion issues in many planes. Also, problems with its core structure — particularly the forward boom, which supports the plane’s weight and must endure the stresses of high-G maneuvers — must be fixed.

These are among the latest in a series of problems for the Raptor as it moves from developmental test jet to operational fighter. Another problem, overheating avionics, was fixed in the last year.

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