Tactical Aircraft: Continuing Difficulty Keeping F-22 Production Costs Within the Congressional Limitation.

摘要

The Air Force F-22 Raptor is designed to be an air superiority aircraft with an air-to-ground attack capability and is to replace F-15 fighter aircraft. Lockheed Martin Corporation and Pratt & Whitney Corporation are the contractors for the airframe and engine, respectively. Development of the aircraft, which started in 1991, is currently scheduled to be completed in September 2003, according to the Air Force. The Air Force had planned to award contracts to begin low-rate initial production in December 2000. However, award of a fully-funded contract for 10 low-rate initial production aircraft approved for fiscal year 2001 has been delayed at least until after completion of the President 5 review of Department of Defense (DOD) programs. The Air Force currently plans to procure 333 production aircraft through 2013. The cost of F- 22 production is limited to $37.6 billion by the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 19982, but the act does not specify the total number of aircraft to be procured.