Senate panel seeks end to F-22 export ban

Senate panel seeks end to F-22 export ban

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A Senate panel urged the Air Force on Thursday to start developing an export model of its F-22 Raptor, the most advanced U.S. fighter jet, even as it voted to end U.S. purchases.

Japan, Israel and Australia have shown interest in buying the supersonic, radar-evading F-22 Raptor, designed to destroy enemy air defenses in the first days of any conflict and clear the way for other missions.

Foreign sales were banned by a 1998 law aimed at protecting the "stealth" technology and other high-tech features said to have made the F-22 too good for money to buy.

If enacted, the measure adopted by the Senate Appropriations Committee would let the Defense Department prepare a modified F-22 that protects classified and sensitive information, technologies and U.S. war fighting capabilities.

"The committee urges the Air Force to start this effort within the funds appropriated in Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Air Force, for the F-22 aircraft," a report accompanying the bill said.

http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSTRE5896JU20090910

the whole reason we dont need any more is because right now the F-22 is so far advanced to anything else out there that it will be awhile before anyone else catches up.

Why would you turn around and sell that technology, even to allies?

Sell the F-35. It's new too and it's already being shared among multiple allies.

The Air Force doesn't want the damn thing.

Oh I get it. Right now there is no need for it; however if another country bought one then we would have to counter it.

The Israelis have been lobbying the hardest to get their hands on these planes for years because, among other things, they'd be perfect for an "undetectable" attack on Iran. Japan and Australia are "interested" or "would like to have the option to buy" them but their price tag is a major drawback and there isn't all that much serious interest. Don't be fooled, Israel is driving this issue hard. Articles about the Israeli government's desire for the F-22 have been a recurring theme in their (Israeli) newspapers for years.

Analysis: An undetectable route to Iran

And they'll get 'em, too. And they'll use them to attack other countries with, again, uniquely American technology. And those bombed countries will get the idea that America supports Israeli military action which, based on action (or really, inaction), it does.

PB

And tankers are not stealth aircraft. External drop tanks also give up stealth.

The internal bomb load is 2 x 1000 pounds. So they would have to use nuclear bombs against Iranian hardened installations.

Yes, they could use them against Iran, but it would be completely obvious who dun it and who helped.

...percentage of losses during the actual over-Iran attack. I also put that in quotes to sort of highlight that with any stealth technology, claims vs. actual performance frequently vary quite a bit. The old "The steath coating comes off in a rainstorm". :) Nobody would actually be fooled about who did the bombing.

PB