Air Chief: Where F-22 Stumbled, JSF Will Soar

September 15th, 2009 | AFA AWS 2009 | Posted by John Bennett

With the F-35 slated to soon be the lone fifth-generation American fighter in production, Gen. Norton Schwartz, the Air Force chief of staff, expects the program will avoid major problems.
 
“Because of things learned from F-22” Schwartz told reporters he anticipates the F-35 will not experience the kinds of technical ailments that typically plague – and delay – fighter development programs. Lockheed Martin is the prime contractor for both fighters.
 
“Do I expect there will be software shutdowns that jeopardize the entire [F-35 program]? No,” Schwartz said.
 
Meantime, the air chief said he opposes a Senate Appropriations Committee plan to use Air Force dollars to develop an exportable version of the F-22. The Pentagon this year shepherded through Congress a plan to cap the American F-22 fleet at 187 planes.

Schwartz said he believes developing an exportable version would not be “the best use of our acquisition talent,” which he would rather tap to develop and field new a new aerial tanker and long-range bombing aircraft.

He noted the appropriations panel’s provision is merely a “recommendation, and not a mandate.”

Tags: F-22, F-35, JSF, lockheed, schwartz, Senate Appropriations Committee

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