USAF hopes to extend Raptor line

Posted on: Dec. 19th, 2005 || Source: flightinternational.com | E-mail Article | Print Article

The renamed Lockheed Martin/Boeing F-22A Raptor formally entered service on 15 December, even as US Air Force officials worked behind the scenes to secure a proposal to extend the production line by two years to 2012 and add four aircraft to the procurement total.

USAF leaders felt comfortable enough about the chances of their proposal to publicly discuss previously closely-guarded details.

“There has been some receipt of the intention to maintain a warm F-22 line at least until we get a [full-rate Lockheed F-35] Joint Strike Fighter [JSF] line” after 2013, says secretary of the air force Michael Wynne. “What that means in terms of rate is still being determined, but I have a feeling the rate will diminish so as to allow an extension.”

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