Fighter plane: 1; arts: 0 -- UPDATED

Score one for the Military Industrial Complex.

That F-22 Raptor fighter plane that is widely considered an expensive, obsolete bit of military hardware? On Wednesday, the House of Representatives' Armed Services Committee voted 31 to 30 to shell out a down payment of $369 million in fiscal 2010 for 12 more F-22s.

Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates -- who, with President Obama, in April tried to shut down plans to make 60 more of the useless things -- was not amused. After the vote, Gates told Reuters news agency: "Frankly, to be blunt about it, the notion that not buying 60 more F-22s imperils the national security of the United States, I find completely nonsense."

In the face of withering criticism of the F-22's military limitations -- it hasn't been used in Iraq or Afghanistan -- supporters of the radar-evading jet had touted its benefits to the struggling national economy. The F-22 provides $12 billion annually in national economic activity through 25,000 jobs in 44 states, as well as an additional 70,000 that are indirectly affected by the program.

For comparison, the national lobbying group Americans for the Arts says the country's 5.7 million workers in the nonprofit culture industry contribute $166 billion to the annual economy. The nonprofit cultural sector has been hard hit by the severe recession, yet the proposed 2010 budget for the National Endowment for the Arts is $161 million -- less than half of what the Armed Services Committee is asking for 12 obsolete fighter jets.

Twenty-five Republicans were joined in voting for the surprise amendment by six Democrats: Jim Marshall (Ga.), Joe Courtney (Conn.), Gabrielle Giffords (Ariz.), Eric Massa (N.Y.), Bobby Bright (Ala.) and Mike McIntyre (N.C.).

UPDATE: Monday night  Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) filed an amendment to eliminate F-22 funding (and to restore funding for nuclear waste clean-up that had been taken out to pay for the fighter jet). Said Frank (via):

I am of course struck that so many of my colleagues who are so worried about the deficit apparently think the Pentagon is funded with Monopoly money that somehow doesn't count...

The Obama administration has expanded production of a different fighter plane, the F-35, which is being built by many of the same companies designated to work on the F-22. Rep. Frank disputed sponsors' claims that jobs would be affected by scrapping the F-22, noting:

These arguments will come from the very people who denied that the economic recovery plan created any jobs. We have a very odd economic philosophy in Washington: It's called weaponized Keynesianism. It is the view that the government does not create jobs when it funds the building of bridges or important research or retrains workers, but when it builds airplanes that are never going to be used in combat, that is of course economic salvation.

-- Christopher Knight

Photo: F-22 advertising campaign. Credit: J. Scott Applewhite / Associated Press

Comments

[R Knapp]

The author of this artiicle really needs to learn a little more about a subject before he tries writing about it. The F-22, far from being "obsolete", is the most advanced fighter flying today. To say that the plane has limitations becasue it has not been used in Irag and Afghanistan clearly shows the author's lack of understanding. The F-22 is an air superiority fighter, a capability that has not been needed in either of those conflicts. That's like saying our Ohio class ballistic missile submarines are not needed because we haven't had a need for them in the Iraq war either. Everyone is entitled to an opinion but you should at least try to make it an "informed" opinion.

[Ari]

We should mail art to these congressmen/women. Let them hear our displeasure.

[Christopher Knight]

This is Christopher Knight. To R. Knapp: "Frankly, to be blunt about it, the notion that not buying 60 more F-22s imperils the national security of the United States, I find completely nonsense."--Sec. of Defense (Bush and Obama Admins.) Robert Gates.

"The F/A-22 Raptor is the most unnecessary weapon system being built by the Pentagon.... It was originally designed to achieve air superiority over Soviet fighter jets, which will never be built. . Over the last 20 years, the cost of the total program has continued to grow even as the number of planes to be purchased has declined."--Former Asst. Sec. of Defense (Reagan Admin.) Lawrence J. Korb

[Trojan949]

C. Knight rocks!

"...the country's 5.7 million workers in the nonprofit culture industry contribute $166 billion to the annual economy."

I wish the Obama office sees these numbers.

[daniel m]

Mr. Knapp:
U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Michael Tracy, director of the Submarine Warfare Division, describes the Ohio class submarines as "obsolete"

[R. Knapp]

This is Richard Knapp to Christopher Knight:

"In my opinion, a fleet of 187 F-22s puts execution of our current national military strategy at high risk in the near- to mid-term," Gen. John Corley, head of the Air Combat Command.

"To my knowledge, there are no studies that demonstrate 187 F-22s are adequate to support our national military strategy," he added in the letter to Sen. Saxby Chambliss.

Quotes are easy...

[Jeff]

Misinformed writers who put personal agendas ahead of honest journalism do a disservice to us all.

[Mike]

The F-22 is art.

[mark]

Well, I'm sorry to rain on Christopher Knight's liberal parade, but "provide for the common defense" is part of the constitution and a core responsibility of the federal government. I don't remember the constitution saying "provide for the whimsical notions of artists, and their livelihood".

I think the readers of the LA times and this column need to come back to earth and come to grips with what the federal government is actually responsible for.

Oh by the way - the worn out refrain about the F-22 being designed to fight a "cold war Russian aircraft that was never built" is a little misinformed. It was built in response to the Mig-29 and Su-27 / Su-30, which have been built and sold to countries all over the world for the last 20 years.

[Christopher Knight]

This is Christopher Knight to Richard Knapp: Quotes are especially easy from those with a vested interest.

[Donald Frazell]

This plane is a white elephant, part of the military/industrial complex need to survive and thrive, over national security need. Gates knows what he is doing, and if he says it isnt needed, it isnt. No Russian or other aircraft is in the fourth generation fighter realm as we are, theirs are all easy to spot and shoot down. As afighter, it is not needed as no other country is developing such a weapon. We are far ahead, for good.

We do have other military needs, and items like the Osprey are still a go. But savings here have nothing to do with spending on the arts. Which already has a huge entitlement attitude, built of its own academic/museo/gallery complex that aims to rival the military/insdustrial one. Savings should to go to reduce the national debt , which may bring our economy to a halt as inflation rises, or healthcare and jobs if absolutely necessary.

The figure CK gives are slanted, all the production from entertainment businesses, like film and music, not art. They are different, as yin and yang, but the line was erased long ago by art academies for profit, and so creative art is now unknown. And now ignored by the general population. It has nothing to do with us, but is all about them, artistes, and their lifestyle desires.

So yes, cut the plane program, but put the monioes where they are needed, and that most certainly is NOT the arts. If they wont pay for it, buy it, commission it, it aint worth it. We have spent far more on art than at anytime in history, with far less to show for it. time to cut the umbilical cord, and the children grow up. and art return, for it is needed. But not the garbage we have been stuck with for decades, and why visitors to museums are way down, and ages up. It has nothing to do with humanity, only the desires of the few, the irresponsible, the privileged.

art collegia delenda est

[Freddy]

R. Knapp:

You misspelled "Iraq" in your original comment.

You lose credibility when you don't even bother to spell check.

Art.

[Richard Knapp]

This is Richard Knapp to Christopher Knight:

Vested interest? You mean like from the people who might actually be putting their lives, or the lives of those who report to them, on the line.

[Donald Frazell]

My son is an Annapolis gradaute. What does pork barrel politics have to do with the national interest and prepping our troops for battle as well as possible? This program is not needed, nor is spending monies on the arts beyond what the NEA does already. There must be demand for supply to come forth, and the demands has been corrupted by bad supply in the past. We need to stop making spam and F-22s, of the military and art.

military/industrial and museo/academic/gallery complexes delenda est

[Christopher Knight]

This is Christopher Knight, to R. Knapp: No, Gen. Corley retires in the fall. I mean those with a vested interest.

For instance, Saxby Chambliss (R-GA), who was the Senator to whom Gen. Corley was writing and who represents the state where the F-22 is mostly assembled, was the third largest Senate recipient of defense aerospace money in the 2007-08 election cycle. http://tinyurl.com/msduuv

And Lt. Gen. Tom McInerney (USAF-Ret.) went on Fox News during the April Somali pirates crisis and championed the F-22 for dealing with that issue, while neglecting to mention his consulting work for Northrup Grumman (a major contractor on the F-22).

That sort of thing.

[mark]

R. Knapp's main point (which has gotten lost in the back and forth), is that the US military is going to need to be prepared for more than just low intensity warfare for the next 30 years. Gates is consistently taking shots at the USAF for having "next-war-itis" - focusing too much on deterring a possible war with China or Russia - and not focusing the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

But the idea that "if we're not using it in Iraq or Afghanistan, we don't need it" , is irresponsible and ridiculous. Of course the F-22 isn't being used in the current wars. Insurgents don't have air forces. But to assume we won't ever fight someone with an air force again, is infantile. Journalists may buy into that line of wishful thinking, but generals like Corley - who have spent their lives defending the nation - know better.

[f-22 builder]

this person is out of there mind. they really didnt research the plane. i make parts for this plane, and it is by far the best plane ever built.

[trojan949]

Wait till your wife tells you she bought a Hermes Himalayan Crococdile Birkin Bag, then you may able to understand you don't always need the very best in your closet, especially it costs over $100,000, and especially your children are starving and can't afford college tuitions.

[Christopher Knight]

This is Christopher Knight: I've added an UPDATE to the post on recent developments.

[Martin]

Dear Mr. Knight,

this is just fair example of amateurish journalism. It would be worth finding out how is F-22 obsolete? This jet is, unlikely F/A-18Es, F-15C/Es and other (truly obsolete) legacy platforms, able to outfly Su-27/30/35, Rafale, Typhoon. F-35 is no substitute for F-22, as it is mostly air-to-ground platform. I have serious doubts about F-35 ability to face threats coming to service at the same it F-35 does: Su-35, Typhoon Batch 3, PAK-FA or J-12. Its T/W ratio, wing loading and other data say it is not meant to be the too happy in the air-to-air area. F-35s radar cross section make it somehow vulnerable to latest SAMs (be it S-300V or S-400) 100-120 million USD bomb truck, possibly good one, but that is it. Kudos to Senate for doing this, Mr. Gates may be right on his global war on terror strategy, but hi is totally wrong on the F-22. He inherited this attitude Mr. Rumsfeld´s team, I´m pretty sure he never checked details. He has no clue about airpower. What he is doing now is gutting the AIr Force and deliberetly removing any dissenters (firing Moseley and Wayne last summer, letting others sign gag order for 2010 budget preparation) . When you touch aviation topic next time, it would be good to give is time and really do your homework. Otherwise, help the media world and do something else.

Martin