How many F/A-22 Raptors do you think will be made?

Keep in mind that the Joint Strike Fighter (which happens to be behind
schedule and overweight, but that's another issue) is designed to be
the next-generation strike fighter.

How many Raptors do you think Congress will fund (assuming no major
changes, like China all of a sudden being extremely hostile) for the
Air Force?

My guess is around 144 Primary Mission Inventory Aircraft (PMAI)
divided among six squadrons: three squadrons at Langley as part of the
1st Fighter Wing, ACC; two squadrons at Elmendorf in Alaska as part of
the 3rd Wing Group, 11th Air Force, PACAF with detachments in Guam
perhaps; and one squadron at RAF Lakenheath in the UK as part of the
48th Fighter Wing, 3rd Air Force, USAFE.

Usually only 66% of the aircraft in the total inventory are PMAI
aircraft and if that holds with the Raptor then 144 PMAI aircraft will
require a total inventory of around 220 Raptors. Procuring 220
F/A-22's would add up to over $30 billion in procurement cost.

That's my guess anyway.

In article <44434bf3.0403011309.663f89 RemoveThis @posting.google.com>,
sovereign RemoveThis @techie.com (Viper_Rob) wrote:

 > Keep in mind that the Joint Strike Fighter (which happens to be behind
 > schedule and overweight, but that's another issue) is designed to be
 > the next-generation strike fighter.
 >
 > How many Raptors do you think Congress will fund (assuming no major
 > changes, like China all of a sudden being extremely hostile) for the
 > Air Force?
 >
 > My guess is around 144 Primary Mission Inventory Aircraft (PMAI)
 > divided among six squadrons: three squadrons at Langley as part of the
 > 1st Fighter Wing, ACC; two squadrons at Elmendorf in Alaska as part of
 > the 3rd Wing Group, 11th Air Force, PACAF with detachments in Guam
 > perhaps; and one squadron at RAF Lakenheath in the UK as part of the
 > 48th Fighter Wing, 3rd Air Force, USAFE.
 >
 > Usually only 66% of the aircraft in the total inventory are PMAI
 > aircraft and if that holds with the Raptor then 144 PMAI aircraft will
 > require a total inventory of around 220 Raptors. Procuring 220
 > F/A-22's would add up to over $30 billion in procurement cost.
 >
 > That's my guess anyway

What about the three Composite Wings? Trusting to wetware, ISTR only the
Mountain Home wing has F-15C's.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->