Smaller F-22 fleet yields about 126 combat-ready Raptors

Posted on: Feb. 24th, 2006 || Source: aimpoints.hq.af.mil | E-mail Article | Print Article

The Air Force's revised plans to procure a fleet of 183 Lockheed Martin [LMT] F-22 Raptor stealth multi-role fighter aircraft will give the service about 126 combat-ready jets, after factoring in the planes that the service will dedicate to training and testing, according to the general responsible for standing up Raptor units.

While 126 may still sound like a large number, Gen. Ronald Keys, commander of Air Combat Command (ACC), said the combat Raptors could be stretched thin, considering the anticipated demands on them. This is true even though the F-22s are tremendously more capable than the aircraft that they are replacing, he said.

"People look at 183 and say, 'Wow, that's a lot of airplanes,'"

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