JUST IN: Source tells me a number of F-22a were not evacuated from Tyndall Air Force Base because they were down for maintenance and couldn't fly. USAF says hangers were damaged but does not know condition of jets inside. Asked their condition, source says, "not good" #Michael
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The final batch of F-22s purchased in 2009 cost about $135 million each. In today's dollars, that's about $160 million. The F-22 is the only fully operational fifth-generation jet in the USAF inventory. It's production was capped at 187 planes
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I wonder if this will lead to a more public discussion of the Pentagon's report on climate change as an imminent and grave threat to national security.
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Damn...those things are irreplaceable. If they are mostly intact the airforce will get them flying again no matter what it takes
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How the fu*k could you not have hardend shelters on a airbase in a storm/hurricane prone area? And had nobody the brains to make some sort of an emergency shelter?
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After Hurricane Andrew the DoD spent more than $100M on just reconstruction when rebuilding Homestead AFB, and that was in 1993 dollars... And I don't think they had $700M in airframe loss on top of it like Tyndall may have.
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The only truly irreplaceable asset is the people. As long as they are safe the aircraft can be fixed.
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