The Air Force F-22 fighter, also known as the Raptor, is the worlds most capable air-to-air combat aircraft. Procurement of F-22s began in FY1999, and a total of 187 have been procured through FY2009, including 24 in FY2009.
The administration wants to end F-22 procurement at 187 aircraft, and the administrations proposed FY2010 budget does not request funding for the procurement of additional F-22s in FY2010.
The administration argues, among other things, that 187 F-22s will be sufficient in conjunction with other U.S. tactical aircraft, such as the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), to meet operational demands for U.S. tactical aircraft.
Supporters of the F-22 want to continue procuring the aircraft in FY2010 and subsequent years. They argue, among other things, that Air Force officials have stated that 243 to 250 F-22s would be needed to meet operational demands at a moderate level of operational risk.
(Demonstration worlds most capable air-to-air combat aircraft)
The issue of F-22 procurement has emerged as one of the highest-profile items of debate on the FY2010 defense budget. The White House on July 13 vowed to veto any bill that supports the acquisition of F-22s beyond the 187 that have been procured through FY2009.
The issue for Congress is whether to approve the administrations request to end F-22 procurement at 187 aircraft, or reject that proposal and provide funding in FY2010 for the procurement of additional F-22s in FY2010 and/or subsequent years.
Additional issues for Congress for the F-22 program include the reliability and maintainability of in-service F-22s, the F-22 modernization program, and the potential sale of F-22s to Japan. The House Armed Services Committee, in its report (H.Rept. 111-166 of June 18, 2009) on the FY2010 defense authorization bill (H.R. 2647), recommends authorizing $368.8 million in FY2010 advance procurement funding for the procurement of 12 F-22s in FY2011. The report recommends $12.7 million in procurement funding for modification of in-service F-22sa reduction of $338.0 million from the administrations request.
Section 131 of the bill would repeal a provision limiting the obligation of FY2009 F-22 advance procurement funding. Section 132 would require the Secretary of the Air Force to develop a plan for the preservation and storage of unique tooling related to the production of hardware and end items for F-22s. Section 1237 would require the Secretary of Defense to submit a report to Congress on issues relating to the potential sale of F-22s to Japan.
The Senate Armed Services Committee, in its report (S.Rept. 111-35 of July 2, 2009) on the FY2010 defense authorization bill (S. 1390), recommends authorizing $1.75 billion for the procurement of seven F-22s in FY2010. Section 122 of the bill would repeal a provision limiting the obligation of FY2009 F-22 advance procurement funding. Section 123 would require the Secretary of Defense to submit a report to Congress on issues relating to the potential sale of F-22s to Japan.
On July 16, 2009, Representative John Murtha, the chairman of the Defense subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee, issued a press release stating that the subcommittee had completed its markup of the FY2010 defense appropriations bill. The release stated that the bill as marked by the subcommittee up includes an additional $369 in advance procurement funding for the procurement of 12 F-22s.
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