90th Fighter Squadron Will Operate Advanced Fighters
Ceremonies held at Elmendorf AFB, Alaska today marked the formal
beginning of operations for the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor in the
Pacific region.
"There is no doubt that the F-22 is the most advanced and
capable operational fighter in the world," said Larry Lawson,
Lockheed Martin Executive Vice President and F-22 Program General
Manager. "The Raptor stands ready to defend America and our allies
from one of the most strategic locations on the planet. 90th
Fighter Squadron pilots are now flying a fighter that is
overwhelmingly effective and relevant worldwide for the next 40
years."
Formed almost 90 years ago during World War I, the 90th FS has
the distinction of being the first unit in the Pacific to fly the
F-22. Basing Raptors in Alaska underscores America's commitment to
the Pacific region. Aircraft can be deployed rapidly from Alaska to
anywhere in the world, and with 67,000 square miles in the Pacific
Alaska Range Complex, the state is an ideal location for F-22
operations.
Raptors first visited Alaska in 2006 when the 27th Fighter
Squadron at Langley AFB, VA deployed to participate in Northern
Edge, a large-scale, force-on-force exercise. Raptor pilots flew 97
percent of their scheduled missions and achieved an 80-to-1 kill
ratio against their Red Air opponents. They also scored direct hits
with every 1,000-pound Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM)
air-to-ground weapon dropped, and increased overall situational
awareness for the entire Blue Force through the F-22's integrated
avionics.
As ANN reported, these
achievements were key reasons the joint Air Force/contractor F-22
team was awarded the 2006 Robert J. Collier Trophy.
A total of 183 production Raptors are currently on contract, and
106 aircraft have completed final assembly at the Lockheed Martin
facility in Marietta, Georgia. A total of 99 F-22s have been
delivered. The F-22, the world's only operational fifth-generation
fighter, blends stealth, speed, agility and sensor fusion. The
aircraft has been in operational service with the US Air Force
since December 2005.
The F-22 Raptor is built by Lockheed Martin in partnership with
Boeing and Pratt & Whitney. Parts and subsystems are provided
by approximately 1,000 suppliers in 44 US states. F-22 production
takes place at Lockheed Martin Aeronautics facilities in Marietta,
GA; Fort Worth, TX; Palmdale, CA; and Meridian, MS, as well as at
Boeing's plant in Seattle, WA. Final assembly and initial flight
testing of the Raptor occurs in Marietta.
Raptors are currently assigned to five US bases. Flight testing
takes place at the Air Force Flight Test Center at Edwards AFB in
California. Operational tactics development is ongoing at Nevada's
Nellis AFB. Pilot and crew chief training takes place at Tyndall
AFB, FL.
Operational Raptors are assigned to the 1st Fighter Wing at
Langley AFB, VA (27th and 94th Fighter Squadrons) and now the 3rd
Wing at Elmendorf AFB, Alaska. Raptors will also be based at
Holloman AFB, NM, and Hickam AFB in Hawaii.