The 50th F/A-22 Raptor has been delivered to the Air Force.

“Fifty Raptors – more than two full squadrons – are in the hands of U.S. Air Force men and women charged with ensuring total air dominance for our nation so that all soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen can do their jobs,” said Larry Lawson, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics executive vice president and F/A-22 general manager.

“Air dominance has been a vital element of every conflict since World War I. The Raptor is a leap forward in capability necessary to maintain our ability to own the high ground for the next four decades. We’re proud to be a part of this achievement and look forward to continuing to provide the men and women defending our country an overwhelmingly effective weapon system.”

This 50th F/A-22 will join Raptors flying today as part of the 1st Fighter Wing’s 27th Fighter Squadron at Langley AFB, Va. Sixty-three of the 83 fighters now on contract have completed final assembly. All remaining aircraft scheduled for delivery to the Air Force in 2005 are on the flightline in Marietta undergoing flight tests and final preparation for delivery.

The F/A-22 Raptor entered full-rate production in April 2005 after Department of Defense approval, transitioning the Air Force’s premier fighter program to a new level of confidence and maturity. Another major program milestone, Follow-On Test and Evaluation, is under way. This important testing, which explores additional combat capabilities of the aircraft, is the next step toward Initial Operational Capability slated for later this year.

In addition to Langley AFB, the F/A-22 Raptor is currently flying at three other bases across the United States:

• Testing is conducted at Edwards AFB, Calif.
• Tactics development is ongoing at Nellis AFB, Nev.
• A full squadron of Raptors is based at Tyndall AFB, Fla., for pilot and maintainer training.

The F/A-22 Raptor is built by Lockheed Martin in partnership with Boeing and Pratt & Whitney. Parts and subsystems are provided by approximately 1,000 suppliers in 42 states. F/A-22 production takes place at Lockheed Martin Aeronautics facilities in Palmdale, Calif.; Meridian, Miss.; Marietta, Ga.; and Fort Worth, Texas, as well as at Boeing's plant in Seattle, Wash. Final assembly and initial flight testing of the Raptor occurs at the Marietta plant facilities.

FMI: www.lmco.com, www.af.mil