The U.S. Air Force attempted to cut the purchase of the new F-35 Joint Strike Fighter from 1700 to 1200 aircraft, so that they would have more money for the new F-22 fighter. The F-22 costs more than three times as much as the F-35, and is optimized for air-to-air combat. The F-35 is more of a fighter-bomber. The Department of Defense sees the F-35 as being more useful in the future, not to mention more affordable, than the F-22, and blocked the air force attempt to cut the F-35 purchase.