"USAF Should Conserve Its F-22s" Topic

That's not just me saying this, but it is also the conclusion of the GAO, which has studied the issue:

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We have far too few of these, and as I mentioned previously in another post, only about 120 are currently available for deployment with combat units, in six combat squadrons. If you then look at how many of those are serviceable, the issue becomes even more dire.

Getting a replacement "wire harness", or other parts can take almost 8 months.

Units are having to cannibalize serviceable aircraft in order to keep some flying.

Of course, that's then a double-edged sword, since it takes up to 7 – 8 years for a pilot to learn to really get the full use out of the stealth jet. However, routine air interceptions could be dealt with by other, less capable aircraft, and the Raptors can concentrate on air superiority sorties and tactics.

Yeah, like sending Raptors on bombing missions in Syria. Who's the genius who came up with that bright idea?

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I don't know, but I think we should adopt the Syrian model of using cargo planes and barrel bombs to save some cash – C-130s will travel.

Thresher03, sometimes a C130 is all you need. Remember the Toyota "APCs" (joking, I meant trucks) of ISIS defeating modern Iraqi Combat Brigades, that included Abrams tanks. Not every problem requires the latest and greatest technology.

… and Fanatik, sometimes it pays to test kit in combat conditions.

Yep.

We should have a Ford F-150, or Chevy Brigade. Then again, Toyotas are probably more reliable, and suck a lot less fuel.

Better answer: buy more of the things.

Well, there is that.

Might be possible, with the proposed, Japanese F-22/F-35 hybrid, but I'd rather see them pull up the research and development/production plans for the 6th Gen. fighter instead.

To help fund that, reduce the buy on the F-35s.