Further Reading

F-22 Raptor References

• FY2003 Report for the Office of the Director, Operational Test & Evaluation [19 MB PDF]
• DOT&E FY01 Annual Report
• F-22 EMD FY98 R&D Budget Request
  

• F-22 Raptor Team Web Site
• f22fighter.com
• F-22 Raptor Web Reference
• F-22 Raptor @ Lockheed Martin Aeronautical Systems
• F-22 Homepage @ Lockheed-Martin Tactical Aircraft Systems
• F-22 Homepage @ Boeing
• F-22 Update @ Edwards AFFTC

• F-22 Raptor Webring
• F-22 Raptor Stealth Fighter Reference by SiteLab WebDesign
• F-22 Raptor Stealth Fighter Reference by SiteLab WebDesign
• F-22 Raptor Informative Site by Amenab Slade

• Revolution in the Air: F-22 Perspectives Air Force Association
• Why America Needs the F-22 Fighter
• Air Force Magazine Article: Who Needs the F-22?
• USAF XO: F-22 on Track
• ANNEX F Common Solution/Concept List (U) Air Force Mission Area Plan (MAP) [as of 11 July 1997 - Rev 10] - Detailed and comprehensive Air Combat Command descriptions of weapon system modernization efforts required to satisfy known needs.
• THE ADVANCED TACTICAL FIGHTER FOR THE 21ST CENTURY -- [CRITICAL CAPABILITIES FOR THE 21ST CENTURY (ABRIDGED)] (Extension of Remarks - January 03, 1991)
• Loh stresses importance of fighter modernization LANGLEY AFB, Va. (AFNS) 21 March 1995
• Beyond Visual Range: Flying the F-22 Popular Science August 1995 - Bill Sweetman
• China's Purchase Of Russian Fighters: A Challenge To The U.S.-- Richard D. Fisher Senior Policy Analyst The Heritage Foundation Asian Studies Center Backgrounder No. 142 July 31, 1996
• The Gray Threat: Assessing the Next-Generation European Fighters, by Mark Lorell, Daniel P. Raymer, Michael Kennedy, and Hugh Levaux, The RAND Corporation - MR-611-AF, 1995,

• F-22: Cost Versus Capability Thomas W. Hampton; Jeffrey M. Reilly (Faculty Advisor) Air Command and Staff College 1998 - Although there are a number of less expensive alternatives, none of them approach the combat capability of the F-22.
• Achieving and Ensuring Air Dominance Craig A. Hughes; Matthew B. Caffrey (Faculty Advisor) Air Command and Staff College 1998 - The potentially grave error of under-funding a SEAD replacement and air base defense, and the danger of proposed future cuts to the F-22.

• F-22: Why It Should Not Have Been Approved for Engineering & Manufacturing Development in 1991 Chuck Spinney -- 26 Mar 1998
• PENTAGON SPOKESMAN'S REGULAR BRIEFING MARCH 31, 1998 -- test program for the F-22
• Raptor Follies Chuck Spinney -- 10 Apr 1998
• The Rising Cost of Low Readiness Chuck Spinney -- 11 Apr 1998
• [EXCERPTS] DoD News Briefing Tuesday, April 14, 1998 George Wilson's article in which the Comptroller argued, Mr. Gansler to make public the cost overrun figure on the F-22.
• DoD News Briefing , March 26, 1998 - Pentagon reaction to a GAO report suggesting that Congress should delay funds at least a year to Lockheed Martin for the initial F-22s because of problems with testing.
• Air Force's next generation air dominance fighter shows its stuff 14 October 1998 -- (AFPN) -- The Air Force's next generation of air dominance aircraft is performing better than expected. "We have two F-22s out at Edwards, and the aircraft are flying very well," said Gen. Dick Hawley, Air Combat Command commander.
• F-22 Raptor goes supersonic for first time 13 October 1998 -- (AFPN) -- In the skies over Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., the Air Force's newest fighter traveled faster than the speed of sound for the first time Oct. 10.
• F-22 Raptor resumes flight 9 Apr 1999 (AFPN) -- Following a series of successful modifications and maintenance test point accomplishments, the F-22 resumed flight April 8
• F-22 FLIGHT TEST PROGRAM UPDATE Society of Experimental Test Pilots' annual convention - April 1999
• FIGHTER POLITICS - L (ONLY Voice of America 20 July 1999 -- DEFENSE OFFICIALS HOPE TO REVIVE THE MULTI BILLION DOLLAR PROGRAM TO BUY THE MOST CAPABLE - AND EXPENSIVE - FIGHTER PLANE THE WORLD HAS EVER SEEN.
• F-22 demonstrates 'supercruise' for first time (AFPN) 21 Jul 1999 -- The Air Force's next-generation air-superiority fighter flew at sustained speeds of greater than Mach 1.5 without afterburner, demonstrating for the first time one of its most important and advanced capabilities: the ability to "supercruise."
• Why We Need The F-22 By Richard P. Hallion [the Air Force historian] Washington Post July 22, 1999
• DoD News Briefing Thursday, July 22, 1999 -- Complacency is the enemy of military dominance. So the Air Force has been working for several years to leap head to the next generation of air superiority and that would be the F-22 fighter, designed to give us air dominance well into the next century.
• House votes to reduce F-22 budget (AFPN) 23 Jul 1999 -- The U.S. House of Representatives voted July 22 to cancel the $1.8 billion procurement portion of the $3.0 billion requested for the F-22 in fiscal 2000.
• Are We Ready To Lose The Next Air War? By F. Whitten Peters, Acting Secretary of the Air Force New York Times July 24, 1999
• COHEN - FIGHTER PLANE Voice of America 26 July 1999 -- Supporters of the F-22 "Raptor" say it will be the best fighter plane the world has ever seen. Critics say it will be the most expensive.
• DoD's Military Chiefs Urge Congress to Restore F-22 Funds American Forces Press Service 30 July 1999 -- With one strong voice, the Joint Chiefs of Staff and commanders from all of DoD's unified commands have told Congress that development of the F-22 jet fighter is essential to the nation's defense.
• Air Force separates F-22 facts from myths (AFPN) 4 Aug 1999 -- The following facts clarify America's need for the F-22 as the premier fighter of the 21st century Air Force.
• F-22 moves into next phase of testing (AFPN) 13 Aug 1999 -- The F-22 Raptor, managed at Aeronautical Systems Center here, successfully met another test milestone recently by flying beyond 26 degrees angle of attack in a 2.5-hour sortie over Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.
• F-22 meets fourth of five 1999 DOD flight-test criteria (AFPN) 1 Sep 1999 -- The Air Force's new air superiority fighter, the F-22 Raptor, flew in excess of 60 degrees angle of attack during flight testing Aug. 25, at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., reaching another milestone and satisfying another flight-test requirement mandated by the Department of Defense.
• Commentary: own the sky by Gen. Michael E. Ryan (AFPN) 06 October 1999 -- The one aircraft capable of dealing with these serious challenges to future air superiority is the F-22 Raptor.
• Boeing delivers updated F-22 avionics software; final board requirement met 27 Oct 1999 (AFPN) -- Boeing delivered an updated F-22 avionics software package to its 757 flying test bed aircraft ahead of schedule.
• DoD News Briefing - Presenter: Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen November 9, 1999 -- The reason that we need the F-22 as well as the Joint Strike Fighter is to give us the same kind of capability that we had to have in this war against Kosovo.
• Air Force to get six F-22s in 2002 Air Force Print News 17 Nov 1999 -- The Air Force will acquire six test F-22 aircraft in 2002 with funds provided by Congress in the budget resolution passed Oct. 5. In the resolution, Congress delayed production of the F-22 from December 1999 to December 2000, and cut funding by $560 million to make the Air Force justify the F-22's cost and prove its technology.
• Boeing reduces F-22 program costs with new wing process (AFPN) 08 December 1999 -- The tooling will reduce the time it takes to build a set of wings by approximately 370 hours, and cut overall cycle time by 12 percent.
• F-22 program on track (AFPN) 22 Dec 1999 -- An Air Force program official expressed continued confidence that the F-22 program will meet projected delivery schedules and cost limitations.
• Air Force awards contracts for six more F-22 Raptors Aeronautical Systems Center Public Affairs 3 Jan 2000 -- The Air Force Dec. 30 awarded contracts totaling more than $1.5 billion to Lockheed Martin Aeronautical Systems, Marietta, Ga., and Pratt & Whitney, West Palm Beach, Fla., to build six F-22 Raptor production-representative test vehicles.
• F-22 gets gun system fitted 12 Jan 2000 (AFPN) -- Representatives from the F-22 System Program Office and Air Combat Command observed as the first gun system was slid into position into the eighth flyable mid-fuselage manufactured by Lockheed Martin Tactical Aircraft Systems here.
• Acquisition official discusses F-22 role in air power future (AFPN) 22 Feb 2000 -- Today we have four aircraft around the world that are on par with our F-15. There are two Russian aircraft, the Eurofighter that is coming on line and there is the French Mirage 2000.
• Problems resolved, F-22 fighter is ready for release, Stars and Stripes, 27 October 2000 -- The Air Force is scheduled to release the F-22, its next-generation fighter, in little more than a month after overcoming software and mechanical engineering problems, Air Force Secretary F. Whitten Peters said Thursday.
• F-22 redesignation reflects combat role AFPN 17 Sept 2002
• F/A-22 undergoes tests, evaluations AFPN 18 Feb 2003
• Raptor crashes at Nellis AFPN 20 Dec 2004
• Crash leads to investigation, Raptor safety stand down AFPN 22 Dec 2004
• Raptors cleared to fly again AFPN 06 Jan 2005
• F/A-22 passes initial operational test, evaluation AFPN 01 Feb 2005
• F/A-22 on track to go operational AFPN 02 Feb 2005
• Report: flight control deficiency causes Raptor damage AFPN 04 Apr 2005
• Report: Flight control system problem caused F/A-22 crash AFPN 08 Jun 2005
• Supersonic JDAM drop marks increase in Raptor capability AFPN 25 Jul 2005
• F/A-22 to begin follow-on operational test, evaluation AFPN 29 Aug 2005
• Raptor releases JDAM during first 'follow-on' evaluation mission AFPN 04 Sep 2005
• Raptor completes avionics testing, advances to next phase of acquisition AFPN 13 Sep 2005

GAO Reports

• Defense Acquisitions: Assessments of Selected Weapon Programs. March 2008 Government Acountability Office Report [GAO-08-467SP]
• Defense Acquisitions: Assessments of Selected Weapon Programs. March 2007 Government Acountability Office Report [GAO-07-406SP]
• Tactical Aircraft: Status of the F/A-22 and F-35 Programs, by Allen Li, director, acquisition sourcing and management, before the Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces, House Committee on Armed Services. (GAO-04-597T), March 25, 2004 [PDF 741 KB]
• Tactical Aircraft: Changing Conditions Drive Need for New F/A-22 Business Case. (GAO-04-391), March 15, 2004 [PDF 400 KB]
• Best Practices: Better Acquisition Outcomes Are Possible If DOD Can Apply Lessons from F/A-22 Program, by David M. Walker, comptroller general of the United States, before the Subcommittee on National Security, Emerging Threats, and International Relations, House Committee on Government Reform, April 11, 2003 (GAO-03-645T) [PDF 562 kb]
• Tactical Aircraft: Status of the F/A-22 Program, by Allen Li, director, acquisition and sourcing management, before the Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces, House Committee on Armed Services, April 2, 2003 (GAO-03-603T) [PDF 368 Kb]
• Tactical Aircraft: DOD Should Reconsider Decision to Increase F/A-22 Production Rates While Development Risks Continue, March 14, 2003 (GAO-03-431) [PDF 1.1 Mb]
• TACTICAL AIRCRAFT: DOD Needs to Better Inform Congress about Implications of Continuing F/A-22 Cost Growth, February 2003 (GAO-03-280) [1.22 Mb]
• Tactical Aircraft: Impact of F-22 Production Cost Reduction Plans on Cost Estimates -- Statement of Allen Li, Director, Acquisition and Sourcing Management, (02-AUG-01, GAO-01-636T). [PDF 112 Kb]
• Tactical Aircraft: Continuing Difficulty Keeping F-22 Production Costs Within the Congressional Limitation, (16-JUL-01, GAO-01-782). [PDF 4.97 Mb]
• TACTICAL AIRCRAFT: F-22 Development and Testing Delays Indicate Need for Limit on Low-Rate Production, March 2001 (GAO-01-310) [PDF 181 Kb]
• Defense Acquisitions: Recent F-22 Production Cost Estimates Exceeded Congressional Limitations [NSIAD-00-178] 08/15/2000
• Defense Acquisitions: Use of Cost Reduction Plans in Estimating F-22 Total Production Costs [T-NSIAD-00-200] 06/15/2000
• F-22 Aircraft: Development Cost Goal Achievable If Major Problems Are Avoided [NSIAD-00-68] 03/14/2000. [PDF Version]
• Defense Acquisitions: Progress in Meeting F-22 Cost and Schedule Goals [T-NSIAD-00-58] 12/07/1999
• Defense Acquisition: Progress of the F-22 and F/A-18E/F Engineering and Manufacturing Development Programs (Testimony, 03/17/99, GAO/T-NSIAD-99-113).
• F-22 Aircraft: Issues in Achieving Engineering and Manufacturing Development Goals (Letter Report, 03/15/99, GAO/NSIAD-99-55).
• F-22 Aircraft: Progress of the Engineering and Manufacturing Development Program, by Louis J. Rodrigues, Director of Defense Acquisition Issues, before the Subcommittee on AirLand Forces, Senate Committee on Armed Services. GAO/T-NSIAD-98-137, Mar. 25, 1998.
• F-22 Aircraft: Progress in Achieving Engineering and Manufacturing Development Goals. NSIAD-98-67. March 10, 1998. [PDF Version]
• Tactical Aircraft: Restructuring of the Air Force F-22 Fighter Program GAO/NSIAD-97-156, June 4, 1997 . [PDF Version]
• Tactical Aircraft: Concurrency in Development and Production of F-22 Aircraft Should Be Reduced, (Letter Report, 04/19/95, GAO/NSIAD-95-59). Size: 36497. [PDF Version]