F-22 joins US fleet as top fighter

Reuters.com ^ | 12/15/2005 | Jim Wolf

[LM_Guy]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The futuristic F-22A "Raptor" fighter jet, designed to dominate the skies well into the 21st century, joined the U.S. combat fleet on Thursday, 20 years after it was conceived to fight Soviet MiGs over Europe.

The Air Force said "initial operational capability" had been achieved by 16 of the aircraft at the 1st Fighter Wing's 27th Fighter Squadron at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia.

Pilots in the squadron, the Air Force's oldest in continuous operation, have been training on the F-22 for about a year. "When asked to go to war, they're ready," said the 1st Fighter Wing's Sgt. Thomas Doscher of the status change.

The aircraft's role is to "kick the doors down" in a conflict, as Pentagon officials put it, knocking out defenses on the ground and in the air to clear the way for other warplanes and forces.

The radar-evading Raptor is twice as reliable and three times more effective than the F-15C Eagle it is replacing as the top U.S. air-to-air fighter, according to Lockheed Martin Corp., its developer.

Lockheed described the fighter as the world's most advanced and said it was "relevant for the next 40 years."

Boeing Co. and Northrop Grumman Corp. are top F-22 subcontractors. United Technologies Corp.'s Pratt & Whitney unit makes the aircraft's two engines.

STEALTHY AND SUPERSONIC

The Raptor combines low-observability, or stealth, with supersonic speed, agility and cockpit displays designed to boost greatly pilots' awareness of the situation around them.

At a "fly-away" cost of about $130 million each for the most recent batch, not including research and development, it is also one of the most controversial U.S. warplanes ever.

[GAB-1955]

It knocks down Su-27s without them even knowing the Raptors are there.

[GAB-1955]

If you fly a 152, a Blackhawk will do the honors for you.

[devane617]

But we never seem to get to that point. We dumb-down our military to the level of the combatant and street-fight. When I see that we have the resolve to use the most powerful military in existence, I will go along with the production of the F-22. Until then we need to load a bag full of rocks and give that to our military.

[crghill]

Let's put it this way, you'll feel the heat before you see what started the fire!

[6ppc]

As an Almost Private Pilot I wonder how one of these things will look flying slow and dirty next to my 152, if I stray too close to Bush's ranch.

25 or so years ago I was flying from Birmingham AL to Columbus GA in a 172 at 3000 feet, and much to my surprise two F4s passed underneath me. I suspect I was being used for target practice!

[FYREDEUS]

Magnificent machine, long overdue.