Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor Reaches Milestone in Maturity

MARIETTA, Ga. --- The Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor surpassed more than 50,000 total flight hours in August while establishing new standards in capability and maturity.>> "The F-22 continues to demonstrate the field performance vital to an operational weapon system," said Larry Lawson, Lockheed Martin executive vice president and F-22 general manager. "The fleet reliability measures are ahead of plan and the force-on-force exercises have shown Raptors provide the capability to dominate airspace today and in the future.">> Pilots and crews at six U.S. bases achieved this maturity level. Operational, frontline Raptors are assigned to the 1st Fighter Wing at Langley AFB, Va.; the 49th Fighter Wing at Holloman AFB, N.M.; and the 3rd Wing at Elmendorf AFB, Alaska. These units maintain constant readiness supporting Air Combat and Pacific Air Force Commands.>> The Air Force Flight Test Center at Edwards AFB, Calif., tests new F-22 capabilities, most recently releasing a small diameter bomb at supersonic speed for the first time. Nellis AFB, Nev., hosts two F-22 missions, operational testing and tactics development, along with Fighter Weapons School training -- the fighter pilot's "PHD" course. Pilot and crew chief training is at Tyndall AFB, Fla., with the first basic course students currently undergoing F-22 certification. Raptors will also be based at Hickam AFB, Hawaii.>> The warfighter has put the Raptor to the test since reaching initial operational capability in 2005 and full operational capability in 2007. F-22s have flown in multiple Red Flag events, Northern Edge exercises, deployed to Kadena Air Base Japan, Andersen Air Force Base (AFB), Guam, and flown in the Royal International Air Tattoo and the Farnborough Air Show. In all exercises and demonstrations the Raptor's world-class capability has been clearly established.