LAS CRUCES, N.M. -- $143 million is what it cost to produce just one F-22 and with today's 58 to 40 senate vote just under $2 billion will be stripped for production of 7 F-22's for the 2010 fiscal year budget. There are currently 134 of these F-22 raptor fighter jets and with today’s vote under the 2010 proposed budget production will come to a halt at 187 fighter jets. Now even though it cost so much to produce just one of these jets much opposition came from different congressmen and senators from both parties because 44 different states manufacture or supply the raptors, leaving concern for thousands of jobs being lost throughout different states. A big concern here in Southern New Mexico is whether it would affect Holloman Air Force base, where 40 F-22's have been assigned. Congressman Harry Teague is confident that should not be a concern for troops at Holloman.

“This will have no effect on the number that we will have at Holloman air force base, we will have the full compliment that we were going to have at the very first and I'm proud that we are still going to have that mission there,” said New Mexico Congressman Harry Teague.

Because it is so expensive to not only produce an F-22 but also maintain it discussions of cutting back production of the raptor fighter jets have been around for awhile.