There’s a lot of traffic on the web, in the news, and in my inbox about the F-22 Raptor Fighter Jet. According to a story in the Great Falls Tribune today (Feb. 19), “The president must decide by March 1 whether to continue making the fifth-generation fighter plane or terminate the line.”

The March 1, 2009, deadline was placed in the FY 2009 National Defense Authorization Act by Congress (just so you know).

People in states, like Montana, where some parts of the aircraft are being built are lobbying their congressional members and governors to urge the Obama administration to continue production of the jet. The cost is about $4 billion a year.

There was a nice thank you event for the folks who have stepped up to support more F-22s in Helena the other day. You can go here to show your support for more F-22s, if you wish.

Some elected officials have already sent a letter to President Obama asking him to continue purchasing more of the jets.

The Bush Administration had resisted buying more of the planes, according to several news sources. President Bush, and now President Obama’s Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates, is said to believe we have enough F-22s.

According to a (not too kind) article in the February 23 issue of Time Magazine, “For every F-22 that isn’t bought, the Air Force could add about a dozen desperately needed drones to its fleet.” The reporter went on to add, “The F-22s that exist are ready to fly only 62% of the time and haven’t met most of their performance goals.” The reporter closed with, “Indeed, it is only a matter of time before combat pilots, like biplanes, become obsolete.”

According to a February 17 article in Reuters, “The U.S. Air Force has concluded it needs more Lockheed Martin Corp F-22 Raptor fighter jets than have been ordered so far, but fewer than it previously sought, the service’s top uniformed officer said on Tuesday.”

It’s a tough call for Obama and his administration. The big question for President Obama and Secretary Gates is can you protect us with the 183 planes we now have? That should be the only thing that decides the fate of the program.