Advanced Fighter's Performance During 2006 Northern Edge Swayed
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The National Aeronautic
Association presented its Robert J. Collier Trophy to the Lockheed
Martin Corporation recently, for its role in the development of the
Air Force's F-22A Raptor.
The Air Force was part of the team awarded the honor, one of the
nation's most prestigious prizes for aeronautical and space
development.
"The F-22 has been a success story for the warfighter and
industry from its inception," said Secretary of the Air Force
Michael W. Wynne. "The Raptor has pushed limits in terms of
performance, safety, readiness and most importantly, its
warfighting prowess. Just by having this weapons system in our
inventory we provide the nation sovereign options."
The award submission focused heavily on the F-22's performance
during the 2006 Northern Edge exercise where Raptors flew 97
percent of their assigned training sorties; F-22 pilots scored an
"unheard of" 80-to-1 kill ratio against their opponents; scored
direct hits with 100 percent of their 1,000-pound GBU-32 joint
direct attack munition air-to-ground weapons; and increased overall
situational awareness for their entire team through the F-22's
integrated avionics package.
"The Collier award is not only a tremendous honor for the entire
F-22 team, but also a wonderful tribute to the visionaries who
conceived the Raptor and the warfighters who fly and support this
revolutionary aircraft every day," said Larry Lawson, executive
vice president and F-22 program general manager. "What Airmen did
in Alaska last year is only a sign of great things to come in 2007
and beyond."
As ANN reported when the
award announcement was made in February, other honored members of
the Raptor team included Boeing, Pratt & Whitney, Northrop
Grumman, Raytheon, BAE Systems and some 1,000 suppliers in 42
states.
The NAA is the oldest national aviation organization in the
United States dedicated to the advancement of the art, sport and
science of aviation in the US The Collier Trophy was established in
1911 and is granted each year "for the greatest achievement in
aeronautics or astronautics in America... during the preceding
year."
The F-22 joins past winners of the trophy including Orville
Wright, Howard Hughes, Chuck Yeager, Scott Crossfield, the crew of
Apollo 11 and SpaceShipOne.