* General Schwartz says diverts talent from other projects
* Will talk to lawmakers to gauge their intent
NATIONAL HARBOR, Maryland, Sept 15 (Reuters) - A top U.S. Air Force official expressed doubts on Tuesday about diverting service personnel toward developing an export version of Lockheed Martin Corp's (LMT.N) F-22 fighter.
An export version could keep the production line going even as the Obama administration seeks to end purchases of the advanced combat jet during fiscal 2010, that begins Oct. 1.
But Air Force Chief of Staff General Norton Schwartz said personnel were needed to focus on what he described as higher-priority programs, including a new aerial refueling tanker and a new long-range strike capability.
He termed the proposed F-22 for export as more of a commercial issue than a government issue.
"I personally don't see it as being the best use of our acquisition talent," Schwartz told reporters after a speech to the annual meeting of the Air Force Association.
Schwartz, the service's top uniformed officer, said he would talk to members of Congress and their staff to make sure the Air Force understood their intent.
Japan, Israel and Australia have shown interest in buying the supersonic, radar-evading F-22 Raptor, manufactured by Lockheed as its top dogfighter.
Foreign F-22 sales have been banned by a 1998 law aimed at protecting the "stealth" technology and other high-tech features said to make the fighter too good for money to buy.
In its version of a defense spending bill for fiscal 2010, the Senate Appropriations Committee included a provision that, if enacted, would clear the way for an export version "that protects classified and sensitive information, technologies and U.S. warfighting capabilities."
President Barack Obama's 2010 budget request, now moving through Congress, asked to end F-22 production.
The Senate Appropriations Committee voted last week for a $636.3 billion defense spending bill that would cap the U.S. F-22 fleet at 187, down from a Cold War-era plan to buy as many as 750.
For years, Japan has sought to buy two squadrons of the F-22, possibly 40 planes, a request that has become more compelling due to tensions with neighboring North Korea. (Reporting by Andrea Shalal-Esa and Jim Wolf; Editing by Tim Dobbyn)
-My comments... the F-35 Lightning 5th generation fighter is fine for export for countries...F-22 Raptor is really why the U.S advancement in defense technology is eons away from it's counter-parts..Countries like China,Russia, and India who are trying to develop their own 5th generation fighter probably won't have a line in production for another decade or so...F-22 Raptor stays in the
* Will talk to lawmakers to gauge their intent
NATIONAL HARBOR, Maryland, Sept 15 (Reuters) - A top U.S. Air Force official expressed doubts on Tuesday about diverting service personnel toward developing an export version of Lockheed Martin Corp's (LMT.N) F-22 fighter.
An export version could keep the production line going even as the Obama administration seeks to end purchases of the advanced combat jet during fiscal 2010, that begins Oct. 1.
But Air Force Chief of Staff General Norton Schwartz said personnel were needed to focus on what he described as higher-priority programs, including a new aerial refueling tanker and a new long-range strike capability.
He termed the proposed F-22 for export as more of a commercial issue than a government issue.
"I personally don't see it as being the best use of our acquisition talent," Schwartz told reporters after a speech to the annual meeting of the Air Force Association.
Schwartz, the service's top uniformed officer, said he would talk to members of Congress and their staff to make sure the Air Force understood their intent.
Japan, Israel and Australia have shown interest in buying the supersonic, radar-evading F-22 Raptor, manufactured by Lockheed as its top dogfighter.
Foreign F-22 sales have been banned by a 1998 law aimed at protecting the "stealth" technology and other high-tech features said to make the fighter too good for money to buy.
In its version of a defense spending bill for fiscal 2010, the Senate Appropriations Committee included a provision that, if enacted, would clear the way for an export version "that protects classified and sensitive information, technologies and U.S. warfighting capabilities."
President Barack Obama's 2010 budget request, now moving through Congress, asked to end F-22 production.
The Senate Appropriations Committee voted last week for a $636.3 billion defense spending bill that would cap the U.S. F-22 fleet at 187, down from a Cold War-era plan to buy as many as 750.
For years, Japan has sought to buy two squadrons of the F-22, possibly 40 planes, a request that has become more compelling due to tensions with neighboring North Korea. (Reporting by Andrea Shalal-Esa and Jim Wolf; Editing by Tim Dobbyn)
-My comments... the F-35 Lightning 5th generation fighter is fine for export for countries...F-22 Raptor is really why the U.S advancement in defense technology is eons away from it's counter-parts..Countries like China,Russia, and India who are trying to develop their own 5th generation fighter probably won't have a line in production for another decade or so...F-22 Raptor stays in the
Everyone knows our capability of pushing the wrong button and crashing down.
