US Defense Department Decides to Start Initial Production of F-22

US Defense Department Decides to Start Initial Production of F-22

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The US Defense Department has given the Air Force the go-ahead to begin the first production run of F-22 Raptors, the stealth fighter meant to replace the F-15 Strike Eagle, officials said Wednesday.

The US Air Force plans to put an additional 5.4 billion US dollars into the program, reflecting projected cost increases, said the officials, who asked not to be identified.

It also agreed to reduce the total number of F-22s to 295 from 339. If the per-plane production cost is lower than the Pentagon estimates, then the Air Force may be allowed to build more than 295.

The Pentagon decision, which has not been announced publicly, is for what it calls "low-rate initial production," which amounts to 13 F-22s. The next step would be for the Pentagon to give the go-ahead for full-rate production, the officials said.

U.S. Lockheed Martin Corp. has already built seven F-22s for test purposes. Three more test aircraft will be delivered to the Air Force by the end of this year.