F-22 Strategic Risk: A Retrospective Look with Future Implications
Abstract
One of the choices made as part of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2010 budget and the 2010 Quadrennial Defense Review was to end the production of the Air Force s F-22 Raptor fighter at 187 airplanes instead of procuring the Air Force s requirement of 381 airplanes. This paper provides a retrospective look at the F-22 s background and several risk categories the Department of Defense and the Air Force considered and ultimately accepted during these deliberations. It employs the risk framework outlined in the 2010 Quadrennial Defense Review, using the categories of operational risk, force management risk, institutional risk (including risks to the defense industrial base), and future challenges risk. Further, it surmises what the compounded risks are today as the 2013 and beyond budgets are declining, F-35 deliveries are delayed, and the security environment evolves with a new defense strategy. The risk of reducing F-22 planned quantities varies by category, and is not inconsequential but is manageable. The new reduced budget for FY13 and beyond, and the defense strategy as of January 2012 complicates the calculus but must be dealt with by the entire department to ensure national strategic objectives will be achieved.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 13, 2012
- Accession Number
- ADA561358
Entities
People
- Amanda G. Kato
Organizations
- United States Army War College