Legally, We Can't/Won't Sell Them Overseas

When Defense Secretary Robert Gates decided to end F-22 production after 187 of the advanced fighters are built, Hawaii Senator Daniel Inouye (D), chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and other lawmakers began talking about exporting the planes. Originally, 243 F-22's were expected to be built by Lockheed Martin.

According to The Washington Post, U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff General Norton Schwartz told Congress that the military requirement for the F-22 remains at 243, but he said at a Heritage Foundation event on Thursday that 187 would be "sufficient" and "adequate" for the U.S. Air Force to fulfill its mission of securing the skies.

House Appropriations Chairman David Obey (D-WI)authored an amendment in 1998 to ban foreign sales of the F-22 overseas. Schwartz aslo cited numerous technical issues that would make reconfiguring the aircraft for export very expensive. He also questioned whether the production lines would still be open by the time any new export law could be crafted and passed.

Some congressional aides see a potential softening among members on the export issue, considering recent developments in such hotspots of the world like North Korea. Japan is particularly interested in the aircraft. One aide, who asked not to be named by the Post, also said the technical issues could be resolved, since 95 percent of the F-22 components were also used in the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

Still, the F-22 production line is already prepping for shutdown, and General Schwartz is not optimistic about continuing the program. "The pragmatic obstacles are very substantial," he said. "The technical, legal and timing aspects of this are very significant."

FMI: http://www.lockheedmartin.com/products/f22/