USAF Targets Larger Numbers, Smaller Bombs for F-22's Future

摘要

U.S. Air Force officials hope they will be able to build more than the 295 F-22s the Pentagon has initially authorized by beating new cost estimates previously agreed to between the service and an independent estimating group. The production decision by Pentagon acquisition chief Edward C. (Pete) Aldridge, Jr., is a short-term tactic to start buying aircraft and achieve better cost-control over the program. The scheme involves revising upwards the number of aircraft to be bought in a few years, when the Air Force seeks full-rate production authority, contends one official close to the program.