Originally posted by SunTracker
The F-22 is a cold war relic. Design began in 1980.
Why are our troops using a rifle designed in the 1950s AND running out of ammo when the airforce shoots down a Mig every 10 years and gets a new fighter?
The newsest AF fighter is the F16 which started service in the late 1970s.
The F15 started service in the early 1970s.
30+ years old...
So why the hell shouldnt they get new upgraded planes? Its funny how you say they dont shoot down many migs, but what about all the ground attcks they do? Or the precison strikes i highly defended areas? We need to keep that capability even as the enemy gets newere defenses, so we need newer palnes with new technologies... Our fighters need this to remain effective, survivable and ahead of potential enemy planes like the newere Sukhois.
But lets look at the F22, lets say you cancel it and keep on with the 1970s service era F15s. When do you design a replacement for those F15s? In 10 more years? 20 years? 30? What do yiou want? The air force flying 55 year old F15s and 80 year old B52s?
Oh and the soldiers get new stuff all the damn time. New night sights, new body armor, new communications, new bomb targeting stuff, new weapons too. Its just not as sexy as a new fighter...
For example they are about to get a new assault rifle, the M8 and IIRC some are allready testing in Iraq. This is a state of the art weapon. They are also resarching and testing a new powerful caliber 6.8mm to possibly replace the 5.56, and the new M8 is modular so an upgrade is easy. A new 50cal MG is on the way too, yep no more M2HB soon. There will also be a new 25mm smart fuzed heavy MG/cannon...
Next generation wheeled ground vehicles are being developed too, yes armored ones with a great deal of speed, agility and power. The abrams is also constantly upgraded as is bradley. The Marines are apprently getting a new high tech Amtrac and the Osprey is still going forward. The Army is getting new helicopters too.
It just seems to me that you are griping...
