DIIG Current Issues No. 12: U.S. Competitiveness in the Fighter Aircraft Export Market

In his April 6, 2009 address, Sec. Gates discussed his vision for the F-22 “Raptor” and the F-35 “Lightning II”, two of the U.S. aerospace industry’s most prominent programs. While at the forefront of 5th generation fighter technology, their limited international sales potential is emblematic of the diminishing prospects for a military aerospace sector described by the Congressional Research Service as “a major source of technological innovations” and a $10.2 billion export surplus.