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U.S. Air Force Announces ... |
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12-13-2007, 04:32 PM
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#1 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Texas
Posts: 1,013
Country:  | U.S. Air Force Announces F-22 Raptor Ready for Operations World-Wide
U.S. Air Force Announces F-22 Raptor Ready for Operations World-Wide - Examiner.com
U.S. Air Force Announces F-22 Raptor Ready for Operations World-Wide
Distributed by Press Release
MARIETTA, Ga. (Map) - MARIETTA, Ga., Dec. 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The U.S. Air Force declared Full Operational Capability (FOC) for Lockheed Martin's (NYSE: LMT) F-22 Raptor today, marking another historic occasion for the world's only 5th generation fighter in production. Gen. John Corley, Air Combat Command Commander (ACC), made the announcement from Langley Air Force Base, Va., home of ACC headquarters and the 1st Fighter Wing, the first unit to fly the F-22 operationally.
"After years of collaborative effort, a key milestone for the F-22 has been reached," said Gen. Corley. "The Raptor's success at Langley with the integration of active duty and Guard airmen is the showcase example of ACC's shared vision with Air Force leadership for the Total Force Integration of tomorrow."
FOC signifies the Raptor has fulfilled all performance and operational requirements for the weapon system, Gen. Corley said. It affirms the entire program, from the aircraft to the pilots and maintenance crews, is ready for a myriad of operations, including employment in a wartime environment.
"This announcement means the F-22 is ready for world-wide operations, should it be called upon," said Larry Lawson, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics executive vice president and F-22 general manager. "It's a great day for our nation and for the men and women who fly and maintain this incredible aircraft. They deserve the best our country can provide, and the F-22 will stand in the gap providing air dominance and air cover for those who defend us on the ground for the next four decades."
The 27th Fighter Squadron at Langley was the first squadron to become operational with the F-22. Since the initial operational capability announcement in 2005, Raptors have been delivered to three additional squadrons, which, along with an Air National Guard associate unit and an Air Force Reserve associate unit, have truly made the Raptor a Total Force asset.
"The F-22 has proven its operational capability and maturity leading up to this important announcement," said Lawson. "The Air Force declares Full Operational Capability after excelling in numerous operational tests such as the deployment to Kadena Air Base in Japan, Red Flag, Combat Hammer and the Northern Edge exercise in Alaska along with completing aircraft deliveries to the 1st Fighter Wing at Langley AFB."
Raptors are currently assigned to five U.S. bases. Flight testing takes place at Edwards AFB, Calif. Operational tactics development is ongoing at Nellis AFB, Nev. Pilot and maintainer training takes place at Tyndall AFB, Fla. Operational Raptors are assigned to Langley AFB, Va. and at Elmendorf AFB, Alaska. Raptors will also be based at Holloman AFB, N.M., and Hickam AFB, Hawaii.
Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin employs about 140,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The corporation reported 2006 sales of $39.6 billion.
__________________ "I had ten rockets on board, and as I wasn't particularly fond of head-on attacks, I salvoed the whole lot at him. The rockets didn't hit him but but they must have scared the bejesus out of him, for he did a steep turn to starboard... I let him have the full blast, all eight fifty-calibers. I had never seen an aircraft completely disintegrate in the air the way this Me-110 did..."
Bill Dunn, 406th Fighter Group 
Matt | 
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12-13-2007, 09:49 PM
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#2 | | "Shooter"
Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Moorpark, CA
Posts: 12,834
Country: | OOOH-RAH for the USAF! 
Raptors rock!
__________________  http://www.vg-photo.com Wherever their bones may lie, the courage of heroes is consecrated in the hearts and engraved in the history of the free. Lt Col Honner DSO MC, 39th Commander speaking of the dead from the battle of Kokoda. | |
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12-14-2007, 12:30 AM
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#3 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 373
Country: | yet another reason for the terrorist to give up...
That is super cool.
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12-14-2007, 10:04 AM
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#4 | | aka Dickcheese
Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Washington State
Posts: 10,894
Country: | Hey Evan, ever notice the small antenna hanging under centerline of the Raptor? Any guess as to what that is? I'm suspecting that it is only deployed when not undergoing stealth missions and is used to prevent an intelligence estimate of the planes stealth qualities. I suspect that it is an antenna for a broadband RF generator. What say you?
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12-14-2007, 11:27 AM
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#5 | | Der Crewchief
Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Ansbach, Germany
Posts: 30,187
Country:  | Very cool. I cant wait to see one of these babies!
__________________  US Army Blackhawk Crewchief 2000-2006 Classic ww2aircraft.net quotes: fly boy said: "isn't that the first jet bomber? becasue i have flown one in a flight sim before and i know how it handles" "wait what ok who made the b-2 crash come on people that messed up its a b-2" "ah yes the mistel those things are so annoying is games and in real life" | |
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12-14-2007, 02:14 PM
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#6 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Lincoln
Posts: 111
Country:  | Not before time-It has only taken them eighteen years.
Good job they weren't required ungently. | |
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12-23-2007, 06:50 PM
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#7 | | Junior Member
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 15
Country: | Now if we can get a few hundred more then whats budgeted we can be in pretty good shape. | |
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12-23-2007, 06:57 PM
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#8 | | "Shooter"
Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Moorpark, CA
Posts: 12,834
Country: | Quote:
Originally Posted by Hobilar  Not before time-It has only taken them eighteen years.
Good job they weren't required ungently. | What are you talking about?
__________________ http://www.vg-photo.com Wherever their bones may lie, the courage of heroes is consecrated in the hearts and engraved in the history of the free. Lt Col Honner DSO MC, 39th Commander speaking of the dead from the battle of Kokoda. | |
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12-23-2007, 07:07 PM
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#9 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Pine Mountain Lake, California
Posts: 802
Country: | Quote:
Originally Posted by Rich46yo Now if we can get a few hundred more then whats budgeted we can be in pretty good shape. | Unfortunately, don't count on it. Don't get me wrong, I love the Raptor, it is an incredibly impressive aircraft; I still think the USAF should've purchased 750 F-22's, which was their original plan, but the changing nature of international warfare and 9/11 has, unfortunately, changed all that. There is now little need for a stealthy air dominance fighter since the disolution of the Soviet Union and the rise or radical terrorism. As I said, as much as I love the Raptor, I think that the US taxpayer's money would be better spent on specialized ground forces (i.e.: Special Forces, Delta, SEALs, etc.) and COIN aircraft, such as AC-130U's, A-10C's, Global Hawks, and Predators.
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12-24-2007, 12:44 PM
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#10 | | Junior Member
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 15
Country: | I forget the number USAF is going to be getting as of now. Its somewheres in the neighborhood of 180 or so isn't it?
And while I agree with your basic premise DoD by no means do I believe that air dominance should suffer because we need more special OPs forces and equipment. I remember when the Soviet Union broke up how many were predicting there would never be a major war again. If anything the breakup of the Soviet Union will cause more wars then it prevented, most of all with Russia being a major seller of High Tech fighter bombers and Air Defense networks.
The Old communists didn't trust other nations with their high end weaponry. Now? The Russians will sell to anyone. So Im afraid the need for a large Raptor force has never been greater nor has the importance of air dominance ever been greater.
Theres going to be another large conventional war. Theres always going to be another one. The F-22 is so dominant its a "war winner" like no other aircraft to date and we should not short change ourselves on it. | |
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12-27-2007, 02:07 PM
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#11 | | aka Dickcheese
Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Washington State
Posts: 10,894
Country: | And with the F-15 still on standdown and needing longeron replacements (and more), there might be a change of heart yet.
__________________
"Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if
they made a difference in the world. But, the [U.S.]
Marines don't have that problem."
-- Ronald Reagan Master of Duplicate Posts | |
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12-28-2007, 08:47 PM
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#12 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 373
Country: | Rush the F-35 into service. It is crazy how long they drag these things out for.
Speaking of the F-35, shouldn't it be the F-24?
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12-28-2007, 08:52 PM
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#13 | | IP/Mech THE GREAT GAZOO
Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Colorado, USA
Posts: 13,520
Country: | Quote:
Originally Posted by magnocain Rush the F-35 into service. It is crazy how long they drag these things out for. | No its not - the development schedule to go from prototype to production aircraft is planned and well thought out, and even still there are delays and other factors that contribute to long implementation periods. Bottom line, you want the aircraft to go into service without any problems Quote:
Originally Posted by magnocain Speaking of the F-35, shouldn't it be the F-24? | No - there were other programs and UAVs given the numbers in between.
__________________ "IF ITS RED OR DUSTY, DON'T TOUCH IT"  | |
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12-29-2007, 02:25 AM
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#14 | | Der Crewchief
Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Ansbach, Germany
Posts: 30,187
Country: | Quote:
Originally Posted by magnocain Rush the F-35 into service. It is crazy how long they drag these things out for. |
What?
You cant rush an aircraft into service! It has to be tested and tested and test flown to make sure it is safe and ready for its mission.
Its not a fricken car!
__________________ US Army Blackhawk Crewchief 2000-2006 Classic ww2aircraft.net quotes: fly boy said: "isn't that the first jet bomber? becasue i have flown one in a flight sim before and i know how it handles" "wait what ok who made the b-2 crash come on people that messed up its a b-2" "ah yes the mistel those things are so annoying is games and in real life" | |
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12-29-2007, 02:59 AM
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#15 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Moscow, Russia
Posts: 353
Country:  | Quote:
Originally Posted by Rich46yo I forget the number USAF is going to be getting as of now. Its somewheres in the neighborhood of 180 or so isn't it?
And while I agree with your basic premise DoD by no means do I believe that air dominance should suffer because we need more special OPs forces and equipment. I remember when the Soviet Union broke up how many were predicting there would never be a major war again. If anything the breakup of the Soviet Union will cause more wars then it prevented, most of all with Russia being a major seller of High Tech fighter bombers and Air Defense networks.
The Old communists didn't trust other nations with their high end weaponry. Now? The Russians will sell to anyone. So Im afraid the need for a large Raptor force has never been greater nor has the importance of air dominance ever been greater. | Did Russia sell any fighters to Iran? or to Libya? Even so, both the Su-30MKX and upgraded MiG-29SMT ,which are currently the only fighters that Russia offers are certainly no match for a Raptor. So USAF doesn't need more than 200 fighters of this type even. And the development of the PAK-FA seems endless even a funding isn't a great problem in Russia anymore | |
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