F/A-22 Wraps Up Deployment

Published: Dec 01, 2005
Source: www.afa.org



The 1st Fighter Wing at Langley AFB, Va., sent some of its new F/A-22 Raptors to Hill AFB, Utah, on Oct. 15, marking the first deployment of the fighters. The new stealth fighters wrapped up their action and returned on Oct. 28.

The move was designed to gauge the F/A-22’s readiness to be declared operational in December.

A group of 167 airmen deployed from Langley to Hill for a two-week training period. The trip was intended to give the troops the chance to practice wartime capabilities in “a foreign environment,” the Air Force said.

During the deployment, the F/A-22s released inert Joint Direct Attack Munitions in simulated air strikes.

It also marked the first time since the 1970s that the 1st Fighter Wing from Langley performed an air-to-ground mission.continue..