Opinion: Rising miles above the rest: THE F/A-22

Jet's technological superiority still vital for a secure nation

Atlanta Journal-Constitution 01/12/05
author: Phil Gingrey
(Copyright, The Atlanta Journal and Constitution - 2005)

We in Congress must remain committed to the safety and defense of our great nation. One of the most important ways we can protect America is to make sure our military is strong and has the infrastructure necessary to defend our citizens.

The F/A-22 Raptor jet is a perfect example of the specialized machinery our military needs to protect our homeland. The F/A-22 is the most technologically advanced fighter aircraft ever made. It's the first Air Force plane that is undetectable to enemy radars, and the F/A-22 is capable of flying faster than any other U.S. aircraft.

Unfortunately, the office of the secretary of defense has been directed to cut $30 billion from its budget over the next six years, and some government personnel are trying to use this directive to cut long-term funding for the Air Force's F/A-22 program.

This is a dangerous mistake.

The U.S. military recently tested American fighter jets against French and Russian planes in an exercise called Cope India. The results should serve as a wake-up call: Russian aircraft beat American planes 90 percent of the time. These startling results underscore our military's dire need for the F/A-22.

America has the best pilots in the world, but without the best technology our forces will lag behind those of our potential enemies. As we modernize our military to meet the challenges of future threats, we must make sure our servicemen have the most technologically advanced aircraft available.

We can't let civilian bureaucrats under the current secretary of defense make decisions that could harm the protection of our nation. We should listen to our military commanders and personnel in the field, who understand how important the F/A-22 is to the Air Force's mission of protecting and defending our homeland.

It's worth noting that funding cuts to the F/A-22 program don't just threaten our nation's safety, they threaten our community's economic security. I'm proud that F/A-22s are assembled right here at the Lockheed Martin plant in Marietta. Production of these aircraft employed approximately 2,000 Georgia workers in 2004, and the plant generated $215 million in business with Marietta firms.

It may seem easy to trim the budget by eliminating an aircraft program, but those cuts come at a high cost to the safety of our nation. The F/A-22 program is too important to be left to the folly of bureaucratic officials who aren't thinking about the big picture: American security.

U.S. Rep. Phil Gingrey, a Republican, represents Georgia's sixth congressional district.