F-22 receives FOC status at Langley

Published: Wed Dec 12th, 2007
Source: ACCNS

LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. (ACCNS) -- F-22 Raptors here reached Full Operational Capability Dec. 12, according to Gen. John D.W. Corley, Air Combat Command commander.

The announcement officially makes Langley's F-22 squadrons combat ready.

FOC for the F-22 means the aircraft are now ready for global engagement, said Lt. Col. Mark Hansen, Air Combat Command F-22 Integration Officer.

"Crews are now [fully] organized, trained, equipped and ready for the joint fight."

Since the F-22s reached Initial Operational Capability two years ago, the 1st Fighter Wing and the Air National Guard's 192nd Fighter Wing have dedicated time and resources into finding how to best use and maintain the world's most advanced fighter. The fighter has deployed and trained across the world to define and refine its capabilities and tactics.

The 1st FW has been training for the wartime mission since the F-22 went IOC, said Brig. Gen. Mark A. Barrett, 1st FW commander. Langley's Raptors were declared IOC in December 2005, making them capable of some combat operations such as homeland defense.

FILE PHOTO - F-22A Raptor DEMO TEAM. Source: USAF

"We are available to be tasked at any time, to do whatever our nation requires," General Barrett said. The 1st and 192nd Fighter Wings will continue to baseline the F-22 so the rest of the Raptor fleet can learn from their experience, he added.

Even though Team Langley has reached the Raptor's FOC, they will continue training to get better every day, said Col. Jay Pearsall, 192nd FW commander.

FILE PHOTO - F-22A Raptor DEMO TEAM (2). Source: USAF

"There's no change in training," he said. "Everybody is working hard, and we're ready to go to war, (on) deployments or on exercises."

The F-22 Raptor's unique combination of stealth, speed, agility, precision and situational awareness, combined with air-to-air and air-to-ground combat capabilities, gives the Raptor numerous advantages over any potential adversary.

FILE PHOTO - F/A-22 Supersonic JDAM Drop. Source: USAF

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F-22 receives FOC status at Langley

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