United States: The Future of the F-22 Raptor

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.