ASSESSMENTS
United States: The Future of the F-22 Raptor
Feb 15, 2008 | 19:29 GMT
![](https://worldview.stratfor.com/sites/default/files/styles/2x1_full/public/main/images/b914366d1fe034bd4da66700d6b496d91e524124_0.jpg?itok=e-1Krtgs)
Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR
Summary
U.S. Air Force (USAF) Gen. Bruce Carlson, commander of the Air Force Materiel Command, insisted Feb. 13 that the USAF will find a way — one way or another — to buy 380 fifth-generation F-22 Raptor stealth fighters. This is in direct contravention to the position of U.S. Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England, who contends that the current 183-airframe buy is sufficient, and that the line should start shutting down next year.
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