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WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Lockheed Martin Corp. (NYSE:LMT - news) has won a contract worth $1 billion to build 23 more F-22 Raptor fighter aircraft plus one test aircraft, the Pentagon said on Tuesday.
The order, for the sixth production batch of the radar-evading fighters, is to be wrapped up by February 2010, the Pentagon said in its daily contract summary.
A total of 131 Raptors are now under contract, with 83 already delivered to the Air Force, said Joseph Quimby, Lockheed's spokesman for the F-22 program.
Originally posted by denythestatusquo
These planes are not cheap are they?
Originally posted by deltaboy
I say buy them until we have 1,000 in our inventory. But thats just wishful thinking.
Originally posted by denythestatusquo
These planes are not cheap are they?
Originally posted by WestPoint23
But I love the fact that they're getting a test aircraft, speed and altitude records here we come!
Originally posted by JFrazier
The Raptor will pretty much smash all of the records in its weight class if they let it.
Originally posted by lpbman
Now, if they'd only kill the JSF, buy more AC-130's, E8 JSTARS, C-17's, tankers, and accelerate the new heavy bomber program I'd weep for joy.
Originally posted by WestPoint23
Killing the F-35 would be a disaster,
Originally posted by Ghost01
Come on WestPoint 23, The F-35 is more of a fancy, fast flying TOY than a critical Weapon System! You can do the Same thing with an F/A-18 E Super Hornet. Right now the V/STOL capibilities of the marine corps version are the only notable Improvement over what we currently have. Just having stealth doesn't make something a good tactical weapon.
Originally posted by Ghost01
(For one thing, in the CAS mission, the F-35's a damn Magnet for Stinger Missiles).
Originally posted by AMANNAMEDQUEST
Whats the point? Do we even have anyone that can match our air power?
Originally posted by WestPoint23
And BTW, when was the last time an A-10 was shot down by a stinger?
Originally posted by iqonx
That's becuase America generally only get's into war's with 3rd world countries. Most of there people don't even have shoe's.
Originally posted by iqonx
All it will take is a single Russian SA-18 or SA-16 to take it out or even a French Mistral or a laser guided RBS-70 Surafce to air missile.