Hatch urges Air Force to buy more Raptors

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sens. Orrin Hatch and Bob Bennett of Utah led a coalition of senators Friday to urge the Department of Defense to stay ahead of increased development of aircraft in Russia, India and China by boosting the Air Force fleet of F-22A Raptors.

"While the United States currently enjoys fair relations with these governments, there is the propensity for some, notably the Russians, to sell advanced weaponry to U.S. adversaries," Hatch officials said in a press release.

Hatch said it's important for the United States to "maintain global air dominance." He and five other senators sent a letter to Deputy Secretary of Defense Gordon England, recommending higher procurement levels for the F-22, which is maintained at Hill Air Force Base in Utah.

"As you know, recent media reports have stated that India has agreed to join Russia's effort to develop a fifth-generation fighter," the letter to England reads. The letter refers to media sources that say one particular aircraft is being developed to directly confront the F-22.

"Such reports are especially disconcerting due to the impressive performance of the Indian Air Force during the recent Cope India exercises and the propensity of the Russian government to sell advanced weapons to our potential adversaries," Hatch and others wrote.