Tactical Aircraft
F-15 Replacement Issues Gao ID: T-NSIAD-94-176 May 5, 1994The Pentagon plans to replace the F-15 fighter aircraft with the F-22. GAO testified that the threat that the F-22 must meet has declined since 1991 when the F-22 program entered engineering and manufacturing development. GAO's comparison of the performance capabilities of the F-15 against those of the current projected threat indicate that the F-15 will be superior to the most advanced threat system for a number of years past 2003, the planned operational capability date of the F-22. Further, the F-15 can be economically maintained in a structurally sound condition until 2015 or later. The F-22 aircraft is not designed for multiple missions or joint use among the services, even though the Defense Department has indicated that these are important features for tactical aircraft modernization.