LOCKHEED MARTIN F-22 RAPTOR AIR DOMINANCE FIGHTERS BEGIN OPERATIONS IN NEW MEXIC

[tigershark]

LOCKHEED MARTIN F-22 RAPTOR AIR DOMINANCE FIGHTERS BEGIN OPERATIONS IN NEW MEXICO

 HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M., June 6th, 2008 -- Ceremonies held at Holloman AFB, N.M., today marked the formal beginning of operations for the Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] F-22 Raptor with the United States Air Force’s 49th  Fighter Wing.

"The F-22 is the most advanced and capable fighter in the world," said Larry Lawson, executive vice president and F-22 program general manager for Lockheed Martin Aeronautics.  "Now it stands ready at a key location in the United States, prepared to defend America and our allies. The pilots of the 7th, 8th and 301st Fighter Squadrons will fly a weapon system that has the capabilities essential to dominate the air for the next three decades."

The 49th Fighter Wing has made its mark in military aviation history from World War II through every major military engagement to include more than 80 F-117 Nighthawk missions in Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003.  With the arrival of the F-22 Raptor at Holloman AFB, the 49th Fighter Wing is definitely the “home of the stealth fighter.”

A total of 183 production Raptors are currently on contract, and 119 aircraft have been delivered to the U.S. Air Force. The F-22 is the only aircraft that blends speed, super-agility, stealth and sensor fusion into a single air dominance platform.  Raptors have been in operational service with the U.S. Air Force since December 2005.

The F-22 is built by Lockheed Martin in partnership with Boeing and Pratt & Whitney. Parts and subsystems are provided by 1,000 suppliers in 44 states. Production takes place at Lockheed Martin Aeronautics facilities in Marietta, Ga.; Fort Worth, Texas; Palmdale, Calif.; and Meridian, Miss., as well as at Boeing's plant in Seattle, Wash. Final assembly and initial flight testing occurs in Marietta.

Raptors are currently assigned to six U.S. bases. Flight testing takes place at the Air Force Flight Test Center at Edwards AFB, Calif. Operational tactics development is ongoing at Nellis AFB, Nev. Pilot and crew chief training takes place at Tyndall AFB, Fla. Operational Raptors are assigned to the 1st Fighter Wing at Langley AFB, Va., the 3rd Wing at Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, and now the 49th Fighter Wing at Holloman AFB, N.M. In the future, Raptors will be based at 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 2007 sales of $41.9 billion.

Source
http://www.lockheedmartin.com/news/press_releases/2008/060608ae_f22operations.html

[Gripen]

um if the raptors are only based on mainland usa, then how can they say that the raptor can defend all her allies? Pretty sure you cant fly from the usa to australia with a full combat load, without refuelling or stopping some where so the pilot can eat. And its not as though their selling the raptor. Maybe i just miss understood the article, but um yeah, slighly confusing

[tigershark]

Don't worry mate those F/A-18s will do a find job protecting your country against those waves of evil super Flankers. (smile face) The article doesn't mention that it has to protect it's allies on one tank of gas either.  Besides Hawaii a little over 3,000 miles away from your country and the ferry range for a F-22 is around 2,000 miles.  Tankers will make up the difference until your country is cleared to purchase F-22s.  Don't worry about the food the pilots mommies will pack snacks for the long flight.  Gripen sometimes you crack me up (stopping some where so the pilot can eat) I'm still laughing.

[Webmaster]

um if the raptors are only based on mainland usa, then how can they say that the raptor can defend all her allies? Pretty sure you cant fly from the usa to australia with a full combat load, without refuelling or stopping some where so the pilot can eat. And its not as though their selling the raptor. Maybe i just miss understood the article, but um yeah, slighly confusing

Hehe, it's a press release with a meaningless quote from an executive What do you expect?

Anyway yes it's just normal procedure to mention the allies as well, even if it's just Mexico. Even if the US coast guard buys a new speedboat it's to defend America and its allies.

Seriously though, deployment from their home at Holloman to defend allies is meant, but surely they can arm two JDAMs and have a long range mission into the heart of a middle eastern or asian country. Just needs some good prepping and a few tankers. Ow right, forgot to tell you that when America says defend it means attack the attacker, not literally defend your airspace with scramble flights 

[RecceJet]

Don't worry mate those F/A-18s will do a find job protecting your country against those waves of evil super Flankers. (smile face) The article doesn't mention that it has to protect it's allies on one tank of gas either.  Besides Hawaii a little over 3,000 miles away from your country and the ferry range for a F-22 is around 2,000 miles.  Tankers will make up the difference until your country is cleared to purchase F-22s.  Don't worry about the food the pilots mommies will pack snacks for the long flight.  Gripen sometimes you crack me up (stopping some where so the pilot can eat) I'm still laughing.

But... don't F-22s have to fly east around the globe to get to Australia? Something about the International Date Line  lol

[Gripen]

I didnt think the US Congress tools were going to let the Raptor be sold, thats why we got stuck with the stupid F-35?


PS... Did anyone notice at all that i posted from my shite phone? Getting a new one next week...hopefully   

Gripen sometimes you crack me up (stopping some where so the pilot can eat) I'm still laughing.

Aww thats sweet, but seriously... they dont have a C-5 outfitter for McDonalds anywhere do they? Actually... thatd be pretty cool if they did. Or KFC.