Cuts Make Raptor an Endangered Specie

[unhappycamper]

Cuts Make Raptor an Endangered Specie
Atlanta Journal-Constitution | By David A. Markiewicz | March 10, 2008

The Marietta-built F-22 Raptor is capable of amazing feats.

It can cruise at 1,100 miles an hour, soar to 60,000 feet, and destroy air and ground targets with ease, all while staying virtually undetectable to radar.

It is a technogeek's dream, a unique blend of speed, stealth and maneuverability designed to make pilots swoon and enemies duck and cover.

The question is: Can the Raptor fight off an even fiercer foe --- a budget-conscious Defense Department that wants to cap Raptor production at 187 planes?

In Cobb County, especially, there is keen interest in the answer. Lockheed Martin's giant plant in Marietta assembles the plane, and roughly 2,000 of the facility's 7,000 jobs are tied to its production. Without new funding, the project will start ramping down at the end of 2008, and wrap up by 2011.


Rest of article at: http://www.military.com/NewsContent/0,13319,163634,00.html



uhc comment: Just a reminder in case you forgot: The Raptor costs $355,000,000 a pop.