Tactical Aircraft: Restructuring of the Air Force F-22 Fighter Program.
Abstract
The F-22 is an air superiority aircraft with a capability to deliver air-to-ground weapons. Advanced technology being developed for the F-22 makes it a very ambitious, challenging program, probably the most challenging program in recent times, according to the Department of Defense's (DOD) Defense Science Board. The most significant features include supercruise, the ability to fly efficiently at supersonic speeds without using fuel-consuming afterburners; low observability to adversary systems that have the objective of locating and shooting the F-22; and integrated avionics to significantly improve the pilot's battlefield awareness. The F-22 program began the engineering and manufacturing development phase of the acquisition process in 1991. According to the fiscal year 1997 President's budget, the Air Force planned to develop the F-22 and build nine development aircraft, two nonflying structural test articles, and four preproduction aircraft at a cost of about $17.4 billion. The Air Force planned to buy 76 aircraft during the LRIP phase of the program and 362 aircraft during the full-rate production phase. The total estimated production cost was about $48 billion.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 1997
- Accession Number
- ADA327625
Entities
Organizations
- United States Government Accountability Office