Jet Aircraft World’s Most Expensive

Jet is meant here is the F/A-22 Raptor, the nickname is reminiscent of wild animals like T-Rex the dinosaur movie. (Note: F / A symbolizes the jet characteristics, ie, as combatants and attack aircraft, fighter and attack). This is a jet that has been coined 23 years ago, and now the most expensive fighter jet in history. Raptor has now entered the ranks of the Air Force (Air Force) U.S. (USAF).

Get plenty of records that can be made for the F/A-22 Raptor. As reported by Tim Weiner in The New York Times (and published in the International Herald Tribune, 28/10 / 2004), by the U.S. Air Force marks the scene of the Raptor called the new history of air power. He is the most technologically advanced fighter plane ever built, as well as a flying stealth antenna (stealthy, invisible radar) that can capture enemy intelligence, and it’s done dropping smart bombs, and shot with a speed of 1,600 km per hour.

F/A-22 RAPTOR was developed in 1981 to meet the needs of the U.S. Air Force advanced tactical fighter aircraft will also have ground attack capability to replace the F-15 Eagle.

In that year, of course, the Cold War paradigm is still very strong. So, which is included in the mandated mission to the Raptor is a “break through the Soviet radars without being detected, and shoot down Soviet aircraft if World War III broke out.”

In fact, F/A-22 tempo requires 23 years to move from drawing board to production line, and into the ranks of the U.S. Air Force fighter squadrons. This means the F/A-22 came as times have changed. Cold War is over, and the USAF has now become an air force without a duel. While the enemy who used to have to face now also has become the air force which was struggling to maintain its glory. (See Andrew Brookes reports on Air International, August 2004.)

During the wait is nearly a quarter century, the F/A-22 was almost doomed five years ago, that when members of Congress from Republicans trying to kill him. The author himself, Lockheed Martin, which is the largest military contractor in the U.S., apparently was just able to feel calm now.

In addition to Lockheed doubt the ability to realize the required capability, the reason for the killing F/A-22 course money. With the price of 258 million dollars per aircraft, F/A-22 obviously much more expensive than any fighter aircraft ever made. The price was four times the price that had been mentioned by the U.S. Air Force, and five times compared to the price of the F-15 that he would replace.

Price aircraft manufacturing is supported by no less than 1,000 subcontractors in 43 states in the U.S. is derived from total orders worth 71.8 billion U.S. dollars to 277 jets, so that each aircraft worth 258 million U.S. dollars. Of course the price per unit was going to go down if the Pentagon to buy more. In contrast, the price will be more expensive if the Pentagon bought for less than 277, or if the plane should be upgraded in the future.

HISTORY F/A-22 might be reminiscent of the aircraft B-1B Lancer bomber and B-2 Spirit. Both are also designed to penetrate Soviet radar, but when it finally appeared, they face the times have changed. B-1B instead included in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. B-2 is now the aircraft (bombers) the most expensive in the world at a price above $ 1 billion (Rp 9 trillion) per unit.

However, with the sophistication of technology has, who is now to be faced by the F/A-22? Soviet jets, and now Russia, the technology is not there the same level with him. Then the countries that are now judged to threaten the U.S. does not have a jet fighter that can match the F-15 Eagle.

Naturally, if the question arises, whether the F/A-22 aircraft is fit for the future. At least that is expressed by Jacques Gansler, a former official at the U.S. Department of Defense during the reign of Bill Clinton.

Year after year, writes Weiner, Raptor shift from the plane, which will be purchased in large quantities by the AU, the plane is too expensive to be purchased in large quantities.

Lockheed party himself explained, the plane take long to make because of the sophistication of the technology mandated by him, but also because the opposition Congress and the resignation of payment. Two decades ago, the U.S. Air Force plans to buy about 760 Raptor, is based on the initial price of 35 million U.S. dollars per unit. A decade later dropped the plan to 438 aircraft orders, then a 339 at the end of the 1990s, and now only 277. Military experts said such a development “Death Spiral”, which with the passage of time and the increasingly high cost of making a weapon that can be bought by the Pentagon to shrink in number.

Indeed if to mismanagement, such situations can make orders not so manifest, as where a contractor may make an order which is very expensive for its development, but then just bought a little. But the leaders said Lockheed, fortunately escaped from the Raptor can dive into the abyss of death, although in 1999 his fate is really critical when the U.S. House Armed Services Committee that was chaired by Republican politicians threatening to kill the program immediately.

WITH the entry of the F-22 Raptor in the ranks of active service, in addition to Lockheed happy of course the U.S. Air Force. Lockheed itself, which this year is expected to reap sales of 35 billion U.S. dollars, still make the legendary F-16 jet, and is developing future combat aircraft Joint Strike Fighter F-35 that would not only be used by the AU, but also by AL and Marines. This aircraft, which will be made by the thousands, by Lockheed executives had predicted would reach the status of “world domination”, because in addition to be used in the U.S., the F-35 will also be used by the British, a number of NATO countries, Australia, and most likely Singapore.

Back on the F/A-22 Raptor, Lockheed may still be asked to monitor the performance of sophisticated homemade jet, the last two years still showed problems in avionics or aviation electronics. In fact, it is also related to its ability to detect enemy fighters far beyond the pilot’s field of view.

Now, 23 years after being developed, began serving Raptor. One raised production aircraft (roll-out) from the Lockheed plant in Marietta, Georgia, 27 October, and the most expensive fighter in the world then join to the 27th Fighter Squadron at Langley Air Force Base in Virginia.

By operating the most advanced jets and the most expensive, the U.S. Air Force is much more left in the world. The Air Force for procurement of four Sukhoi jets just have to face controversy crowded, must also see that how far the differences between himself and the USAF. But not only the Air Force who mumbled so, because other countries will also be a similar comment. That is what explains why the U.S. is the only superpower in the world.