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F-22 Raptor: 5th Generation Fighter

Fresh from the hands of the testers to those of the operators, the F-22 Raptor has wasted no time in demonstrating its effectiveness, unique flexibility and synergy with other assets in operationally-realistic scenarios.

With more than 100 Raptors delivered, the fighter is operational and has been put through its paces in demanding joint exercises. It is clear that the introduction of the F-22 is ushering in a shift in both the scope of the contribution that the aircraft can make to an increasingly netenabled fight, and in the evolving role played by Raptor pilots in facilitating these contributions.

Last year, in the spring, a dozen F-22s and more than 250 personnel from the U.S. Air Force’s 1st Fighter Wing’s 27th Fighter Squadron from Langley Air Force Base, Va., took part in a 90-day deployment to Kadena Air Base, Japan. More than 670 sorties were flown during the deployment, which proved the Raptor’s worldwide reach. [Download]