"Harry Andreas" wrote in message
...
In article , "Kevin Brooks"
wrote:

Not necessarily. The number that has been bandied about (180) would
allow
around six squadrons to be fielded, along with with attrition, training,
and
test aircraft. That would, given the likely air-to-air threats we can
currently envision, be sufficient to ensure our ability to apply
airpower in
any likely required scenarios, withthe F-35 bulking up the force. We
have
managed to do quite well with only one wing of F-117's for a number of
years
now.

6 squadrons may or may not be enough, but the comparison to the F-117 is a
poor one. The F-117 is a very specialized a/c with narrow operational
utility.
The F-22 is supposed to replace the most effective a/a platform in
inventory.
A much broader role is(was) envisioned for the F-22.

But if you consider that the "super capabilities" of the F-22 will only be
*required* against a very few potential threats, then the analogy still
holds true IMO. Other platforms remain capable of dealing with the majority
of potential air threats. The move to relabel the F-22 as F/A-22 was born
from the desire to counter this kind of argument.

Brooks


--
Harry Andreas
Engineering raconteur