[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 52 (Tuesday, April 26, 2005)]
[House]
[Page H2478]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         WHY THE F/A-22 RAPTOR

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the order of the House of 
January 4, 2005, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Stearns) is recognized 
during morning hour debates for 5 minutes.
  Mr. STEARNS. Mr. Speaker, recently I had the opportunity to visit 
Langley Air Force Base in Virginia and spend time with the commander of 
the Air Combat Command, Lieutenant General William Fraser, and many 
dedicated, indeed dedicated, members of the United States Air Force. As 
part of the Air Force Caucus trip, we had almost 50 people 
participating in the trip.
  Much of this trip focused on the F/A-22 Raptor and its importance to 
the future of the United States Air Force. After visiting with General 
Fraser and seeing the Raptor up close, I am more convinced and I think 
the participants who went on this trip are also convinced that the F/A-
22 will become an integral part of future military successes.
  Mr. Speaker, during my visit I was briefed not only about the 
warfighting capabilities of this plane but about the maintenance 
program as well. The Air Force uses cutting-edge technology to maintain 
this plane; and this, of course, leads to more efficient maintenance. 
It is the first jet to use an entirely paperless maintenance program, 
allowing new parts to be ordered or changes to be made significantly 
faster.
  The engine also utilizes new technologies. Its design allows it to be 
worked on while still on the plane, that is, the engine. In the past, 
engines often needed to be removed in order to be maintained. This is 
not the case for the F/A-22. These new technologies mean less time in 
the shop and, of course, more time in the air.
  Also, the maintenance training program has been improved. No longer 
are there these big, bulky maintenance manuals. The training is digital 
in real-time, with real-world conditions. It leads to more effective 
and efficient training. Maintainers spend less time in training and 
more time actually working on the plane. This, of course, leads to 
faster maintenance and thus the F/A-22s are not grounded for longer 
than is necessary.
  In the past, and particularly in the post-September 11 environment, 
homeland security has been our top priority here in Congress and our 
Nation. The F/A-22 plays a large role in protecting the homeland. 
According to the Air Force, 238 legacy fighters would be required and 
needed to protect this homeland while only 150 F/A-22s would be needed.
  The Bush administration unfortunately has proposed cutting $10 
billion from the F/A-22 program over the next 5 years, leaving enough 
to buy 183 of the 381 planes the Air Force says it needs. Simply put, 
in my judgment, this number is just not sufficient.
  The Air Force will not be able to guarantee air superiority without a 
sufficient quantity of F/A-22s. The U.S. has not lost a soldier due to 
an air attack since 1952. The Air Force has made air superiority look 
so easy that we have begun to take it for granted, but maintaining this 
air dominance is not easy.
  For now, the United States Air Force is the best trained, the best 
equipped in the world; but Russia, China, India have made huge strides 
in achieving parity, and, in some cases, have even surpassed U.S. 
capabilities.
  Our current, but badly aging, fighters no longer enjoy technological 
or aerodynamic superiority when compared to the modern aircraft of 
potential adversaries. There have been some recent exercises pitting 
the F-15s, which the F/A-22 Raptor will replace, against one of 
Russia's primary export fighters, resulting in kill ratios favoring the 
SU-30.
  In contrast, on a recent training mission where a single F/A-22 went 
against five F-15s, the Raptor killed all the F-15s within 3 minutes. 
Additionally, due to a lack of stealth assets, the ability of our 
aircraft to operate in environments where hostile threats exist is 
inadequate. The only way to address these shortcomings, which will only 
worsen, I tell my colleagues, is with sufficient numbers of the F/A-22 
Raptor. We cannot fight tomorrow's war with yesterday's equipment.
  That is why America needs the Raptor. With a variety of internal 
weapons, the Raptor can destroy or negate the most capable future 
threats: advance fighters; surface-to-air missile systems; and high-
value, mobile ground targets.
  The F/A-22's combination of speed, stealth, and integrated avionics 
bring unmatched capabilities to cope with the 21st-century threat 
environment. Air dominance gives the joint force freedom from attack, 
freedom to maneuver and, of course, freedom to succeed. No substitute 
exists for the F/A-22's unique capabilities.
  With the international proliferation of sophisticated aircraft and 
air defense systems, U.S. fighters are losing their ability to leverage 
access for U.S. forces in hostile regions. The F/A-22 changes this 
equation with its revolutionary design and potent array of systems.
  Mr. Speaker, that is why we need to fully fund the F/A-22 Raptor over 
the next 5 years.

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