Move over grounded F-15s, there’s a new sherriff in town.
From an end-zone dancing Lockheed Martin:
The U.S. Air Force declared Full Operational Capability (FOC) for Lockheed Martins F-22 Raptor today, marking another historic occasion for the worlds only 5th generation fighter in production. Gen. John Corley, Air Combat Command Commander (ACC), made the announcement from Langley Air Force Base, Va., home of ACC headquarters and the 1st Fighter Wing, the first unit to fly the F-22 operationally.
After years of collaborative effort, a key milestone for the F-22 has been reached, said Gen. Corley. The Raptors success at Langley with the integration of active duty and Guard airmen is the showcase example of ACCs shared vision with Air Force leadership for the Total Force Integration of tomorrow.
FOC signifies the Raptor has fulfilled all performance and operational requirements for the weapon system, Gen. Corley said. It affirms the entire program, from the aircraft to the pilots and maintenance crews, is ready for a myriad of operations, including employment in a wartime environment.
This announcement means the F-22 is ready for world-wide operations, should it be called upon, said Larry Lawson, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics executive vice president and F-22 general manager. Its a great day for our nation and for the men and women who fly and maintain this incredible aircraft. They deserve the best our country can provide, and the F-22 will stand in the gap providing air dominance and air cover for those who defend us on the ground for the next four decades.
The 27th Fighter Squadron at Langley was the first squadron to become operational with the F-22. Since the initial operational capability announcement in 2005, Raptors have been delivered to three additional squadrons, which, along with an Air National Guard associate unit and an Air Force Reserve associate unit, have truly made the Raptor a Total Force asset.
The F-22 has proven its operational capability and maturity leading up to this important announcement, said Lawson. The Air Force declares Full Operational Capability after excelling in numerous operational tests such as the deployment to Kadena Air Base in Japan, Red Flag, Combat Hammer and the Northern Edge exercise in Alaska along with completing aircraft deliveries to the 1st Fighter Wing at Langley AFB.
Raptors are currently assigned to five U.S. bases. Flight testing takes place at Edwards AFB, Calif. Operational tactics development is ongoing at Nellis AFB, Nev. Pilot and maintainer training takes place at Tyndall AFB, Fla. Operational Raptors are assigned to Langley AFB, Va. and at Elmendorf AFB, Alaska. Raptors will also be based at Holloman AFB, N.M., and Hickam AFB, Hawaii.
– Christian
{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
i found this site from blogs of war. i come over here and the raptor is the first thing i see. i’m going to really enjoy this blog!
who the frik let a Warcraft player on here?
i find it extremely hilarious that even though there is a substantial anti-china rhetoric on this site, chinese spam seems to be infiltrating without much issue
I would say this site is not anti-china. A better description would be that it’s readers strongly point out that China is in no way “our pal”. If China is actively modernizing its military at the expense of American Tax Payers, American Corporations and American consumer through many channels not limited to technology and intellectual property theft for the intended purpose to kill American service people, while at the same time using this money to support organizations and governments that are actively pursuing our demise, well then I guess your right.
We are kinda rough on them, just a little.
im a regular reader here and a warcraft player…
and damn…i cant get away from their spam no matter where i go…its everywhere
I’m surprised, this Raptor article has been up for an entire day without someone making snarky comments about the international dateline.
I love the F-22 its the only thing i want to fly.
The F-22 is also my favorite.
Once the Russian Sukhoi PAK-TA becomes operational, the US will be forced to either re-open the F-22 Raptor production line or begin a F-22 replacement program because 187 will simply be not enough and there's no possible way that any of the UAVs on design or prototype stage can match the performance of a F-22 because there are some cost associated in building a Mach 2+ aircraft and whether it's manned or not will not change the price very much.