The Number of F/A-22s Set at 183: 
USAF officials say the QDR will limit F/A-22 Raptor production to 183 aircraft (number corrected from 185 following official USAF briefing on 12/13/05). They plan to extend the production line—allowing a peak rate of 20 per year. Stretching the program this way will enable them to bridge the gap to start of F-35 Joint Strike Fighter production, but they admit it will drive the per unit cost of the Raptor higher.
Leaders of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees are tentatively scheduling a “Big Four” meeting for Oct. 26 to begin hashing out an agreement on the 2021 defense policy bill, House Armed Services Committee Chairman Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.) told reporters. The Big Four refers to the top Democrats…