Posted on 12/16/2005 12:26:29 PM PST by BenLurkin
The F-22A Raptor, the newest addition to the Air Force arsenal, entered operational status Thursday after nearly 20 years of development and testing, much of it in the skies above the Antelope Valley.
"This is a great day for us in the Air Force," said Gen. Ronald E. Keys, commander of Air Combat Command. "I'm very happy to add this arrow to our quiver."
The F-22A incorporates advancements in stealth, fuel-saving supersonic flight without afterburners, advanced avionics to provide pilots with better information about their environment and superior maneuverability.
Keys considered the aircraft's capability and supportability in assigning the Raptor to initial operational capability, or IOC, meaning both the aircraft itself and the personnel and equipment to fly and support it are in place for combat operations.
The operational aircraft are in the 27th Flight Squadron of the 1st Fighter Wing, based at Langley Air Force Base in Virginia.
"I don't have 'F/As' in the United States Air Force," Keys said. "The Navy does 'F/As'; we don't have 'F/As.' " The "A" following the "22" in F-22A designates the model of the aircraft.
(Excerpt) Read more at avpress.com ...
Must see Raptor heritage vid........
http://homepage.mac.com/lightningrodpictures/iMovieTheater33.html
Fabulous news. I will sleep better knowing we once again have dominant air superiority platforms.
Yeah, the air force only does F/A's during budget cuts. Once the project is funded they change the name. A 250lb bomb would have only qualified for a lower case "a" anyway.
bump .... a 250# smart bomb is still pretty nice.
Let's start with Iran...
Look out IRAN...
The 22 can carry more than that on external hardpoints.
Unless they have a use as Bombers, its unlikely they would EVER see any action.
Awesome weapon system though - Unmatched Superiority!!!
EVEN if CHINA, RUSSIA, and FRANCE combine their forces and have a conventional WAR (NON-NUCLEAR), and if we have enough of these 'RAPTORS', their combined Air-force can and will be wiped out in short order. With Air-Superiority, their ground forces have no prayer either.
This weapon is so great, that it is only useful against great powers.
I don't think it gives us any edge with respect to WOT.
And in doing so 86's the reduction in RCS that they keep touting.
Actually they can keep that reduction. I won't go into it because I don't know if the 'how' is public knowlege yet.
And it can run on coal too (gasified coal) anyway!
Baloney. External stores make that thing light up like a Christmas tree.
"I don't have 'F/As' in the United States Air Force," Keys said. "The Navy does 'F/As'; we don't have 'F/As.' " The "A" following the "22" in F-22A designates the model of the aircraft."
I thought the "A" designation, in the Navy anyway, stood for attack. As having dual capabilities protecting above the carrier as a fighter, while being able to penetrate enemy ground facilities as an attack bomber.
So this replaces the F15 Eagle as our air superiority fighter, right?
I believe we have F-18s at Eielson AFB in Alaska. Some of those are being withdrawn in the next couple of years, and their replacement will be the F-22, but the F-22 will be stationed in Washington. The F-22 can reach Alaska quick enough to perform interception if needed. It doesn't seem possible the F-22s can get here quick enough to intercept an air attack on Greeley, while the F-18s are already here, but maybe the F-18s aren't capable of stopping all modern air attacks while the F-22s are. Don't know, not a military planner.
No way, the Gub'ment can't afford many F-22A's. We'll need all the F-15's we have in short order. The ME is gonna blow anytime now. Pay attention to the Iran/Iraq situation, because sparks are gonna fly.
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