Ratchet it on up...air dominance.
Posted on 04/21/2005 7:14:51 PM PDT by iso
MARIETTA, Ga. , April 19, 2005 -- The Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] F/A-22 Raptor fighter aircraft has been given the green light by Department of Defense acquisition officials to enter into full-rate production.
An acquisition decision information paper released by the Department of Defense on April 18 states “The Under Secretary of Defense (Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics) [Michael W. Wynne] approved the full rate production capability of the F/A-22.” This decision officially transitions the Air Force’s premier fighter program to a new level of confidence and maturity.
“This is great news for warfighters whether they are soldiers on the ground or airmen guarding the skies,” said Larry Lawson, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company executive vice president and general manager of the F/A-22 program.
“This decision reflects confidence in the performance of the aircraft demonstrated during an exhaustive Independent Operational Test & Evaluation program as well as the team’s proven ability to produce the aircraft,” Lawson added. “This is the culmination of a tremendous effort put forward by many in the Air Force as well as industry. The Raptor team understands the overwhelming capability the F/A-22 provides is vital today and must also be relevant for three to four decades to come.”
This F/A-22 program milestone follows initial operational test findings in February and March by both the Air Force and the Department of Defense, which judged the aircraft to be “overwhelming effective” in its performance. Air Force pilots will be able to dominate any engagement with the Raptor. The F/A-22 will provide protection for troops no matter where they are, to an extent never before possible.
The F/A-22 Raptor, the world's most advanced fighter, is built by Lockheed Martin in partnership with Boeing and Pratt & Whitney. Parts and subsystems are provided by approximately 1,000 suppliers in 42 states. F/A-22 production takes place at Lockheed Martin Aeronautics facilities in Palmdale, Calif.; Meridian, Miss.; Marietta, Ga.; and Fort Worth, Texas, as well as at Boeing's plant in Seattle, Wash. Final assembly and initial flight testing of the Raptor occurs at the Marietta plant facilities.
The Raptor is slated to reach initial operational capability in December 2005 at Langley Air Force Base, Va. The F/A-22's balanced design of stealth, supercruise speed, supportability and super-agility, along with its advanced integrated avionics, will enable combat commanders to change the way future wars are fought.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., a business area of Lockheed Martin, is a leader in the design, research and development, systems integration, production and support of advanced military aircraft and related technologies. Its customers include the military services of the United States and allied countries throughout the world. Products include the F-16, F/A-22, F-35 JSF, F-117, C-5, C-130, C-130J, P-3, S-3 and U-2. The company produces major components for the F-2 fighter, and is a co-developer of the C-27J tactical transport and T-50 advanced jet trainer.
Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin employs about 130,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture and integration of advanced technology systems, products and services. The corporation reported 2004 sales of $35.5 billion.
OUTSTANDING!
About bloody time. I thought that I would reach retirement age before congress moved on this aircraft.
Ratchet it on up...air dominance.
Really, awesome technology.
http://exposingtheleft.blogspot.com/2005/04/raptor-wins-aprroval-for-full-rate.html
F/A-22 
F119-PW-100 
F/A-22's APG-77 AESA 
F/A-22's Weapon M61A2 AIM-120C AIM-9X HARM GBU-32 GBU-22 III 
JASSM WCMD 
SDB
> The F/A-22's balanced design of stealth, supercruise
> speed, supportability and super-agility, along with
> its advanced integrated avionics, will enable combat
> commanders to change the way future wars are fought.
It might have been impolitic of them to point out that,
despite the description given to the F-117, the F/A-22
is actually our first "stealth fighter". The F-117,
perhaps oughta have been called the A-117, as it has
no significant air-to-air capability.
That deficiency hasn't mattered so far, because all the
opponents to date haven't had serious airforces (or
any airforce, for long after hostilities commenced).
China might have considerable a-a threats, by the time
the PRC-ROC tension finally boils over. We may yet
need the F/A-22.
With any luck, the software will be mostly debugged by
then.
I'm sure Bejing is thrilled ;)
How do you say tough nuggies in Chinese!
No kidding... I knew a pilot in training - in '94 he was told the Raptor would be delivered in '97. I think they lied just to recruit him.
I think the approval for full rate production came from the DOD after the completion of Operational Testing. I don't think Congress was involved.
I worked on the radar for the F-22 for about five years before I retired in 1991.
The Congress has been responsible for delaying full rate production for at least a decade, by cutting funding.
Yes it is. What I have always found fascinating is that in one aspect, everything that was old is new. By this I am referring to the internal weapons bay for fighters. This concept was first expressed in the F-102/F-106. Who would have thought, back then, that the internal weapons bay would return as an element of stealthiness.
I have kept tabs on this aircraft since it was first revealed to the public as the YF-22. The Donkey boys have done everything to kill it aside from outright sabotage. The Congress found new ways to play with budget lines for it. Finally, the aircraft has the green light.
Gotta love it. The Ruskies and ChiComms air planners are going to have some sleepless nights...and well they should.
They'd better get it down. Next generation of fighter won't even have pilots on board, most likely.
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