9/4/2007 - MARIETTA, Ga. (AFPN) -- Air Force officials received the 100th F-22 Raptor from Lockheed Martin in Aug. 29 ceremonies in Marietta.

The milestone aircraft -- Air Force serial number 05-0100 -- will be assigned to the 90th Fighter Squadron at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska.

Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne signed the Defense Department 250 Form, the official government acceptance document, at the ceremony. The 90th Fighter Squadron at Elmendorf AFB is expected to receive its full complement of 20 F-22s by the fall of 2008.

The F-22 is the Air Force's newest fighter aircraft. Its combination of stealth, supercruise, maneuverabilit, and integrated avionics, coupled with improved supportability, represents an exponential leap in warfighting capabilities.

Starting with the first parts being made, production of each F-22 takes a total span of approximately 30 months. The various parts are sent to the Lockheed Martin facility in Marietta for final assembly. With 30 positions on the assembly line in the 3.5 million square foot main production building in Marietta, the elapsed time in the major mate and final assembly process is approximately 12 months.

F-22s are currently assigned to five bases. Flight testing takes place 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 F-22s are assigned to Langley AFB, Va., and at Elmendorf AFB. F-22s will also be based at Holloman AFB, N.M., and Hickam AFB, Hawaii.

"The F-22 is a testament to the skills of engineers and technicians from more than 1,000 companies across America," said Larry Lawson, the Lockheed Martin executive vice president and F-22 program general manager. "This delivery marks a significant milestone for the Air Force and the F-22 program. The Raptor is providing top cover for America and our allies. We have developed the most capable fighter in the world, which is exactly what the men and women defending us deserve."

http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123066644

Alaska? Hmm...Hello, Russia. Care to dare to invade Alaska?

Originally Posted by Fox

Alaska? Hmm...Hello, Russia. Care to dare to invade Alaska?

Russia, China, North Korea.... the list goes on

Well dude, North Korea isn't going to launch an invasion of the US. That's just silly.

Originally Posted by the_13th_redneck

Well dude, North Korea isn't going to launch an invasion of the US. That's just silly.

Right. But they could be allied with China or Russia. Just like the Korean War.

Originally Posted by Fox

Right. But they could be allied with China or Russia. Just like the Korean War.

Except that North Korea now has very strained relations with both countries.


The problem with the F-22 is that it is extremely expensive, I cannot help but wonder that despite the effectiveness of the aircraft the money isn't better spent elsewhere.

The F-22 is worth it because nothing in the air is anything close to it.
Basically with your F-22s and JSFs coming in, you will have a complete fleet of stealth combat aircraft. The potential of air superiority against any foe will be insane. You will own every piece of the sky anywhere your planes can reach.
Also, with aircraft like the F-22, fighter wings probably won't have to be as big as they used to be.

Originally Posted by the_13th_redneck

Well dude, North Korea isn't going to launch an invasion of the US. That's just silly.

They can threaten US allies including your own motherland, S.Korea

They are a threat to South Korea. A big threat at that. But North Korea's chances of actually taking out the US is virtually zero.

I agree with the_13th_redneck that with the US Air Force coming in with two stealth types nothing can touch that overall. I believe or hope once NK kills off their current leader or he dies NK will change. Then and only then might relations between them and China change and only if they bow down to their Chinese masters in a sense. Currently both China and Russia aren't on NK favorite country list, but things can change. Military wise NK equipment is older and not supported well but still have a few ways of hurting the south. Nukes if they have them and a true way of delivering them. Next different cruise some which can hit SK and Japan a major allied and a huge part of our economy. Lastly artillery isn't there something like a thousand or more cannons facing the south some is harden bunkers that would difficult to knock out. Isn't Soul in range of a lot of these tubes and I assume heavy rocket batteries as well. I'm sure some could knockout and assume some incoming rockets shot down but stopping all those artillery shells from hitting would seem a difficult task. I don't know how SK defenses are setup but what if NK artillery batteries fired 10 rounds each before being knockout, how bad would the loses be? Some would be able to fire a lot more then ten rounds too. How do you counter a thousand or more pieces of artillery being fired at your positions? I know aircraft wise SK even without our help would do very well clearing the skies and I'm sure navy wise as well.