Raptor gets thumbs up from AFOTEC

  • Published
  • By Laura McGowan
  • 88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio --  The Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center recently completed Follow-on Operational Test and Evaluation of the F-22 Raptor's Increment 2 Modernization Program with an "effective and suitable" rating.

This rating confirms that the F-22 weapon system meets warfighter needs and is absolutely ready for combat operations.

"This test proved the Raptor's ability to provide air dominance by simultaneously attacking airborne and ground targets in high threat environments," said Col. Jimmy Clark, commander of AFOTEC's Detachment 6, Nellis AFB, Nev. "The test also, for the first time, demonstrated capability to conduct simultaneous air-to-air and air-to-ground live weapons employment on the Utah Test and Training Range."

"That's great news for the Air Force as we continue to field and deploy the world's only operational 5th generation fighter," said Brig. Gen. C.D. Moore, commander of the 478th Aeronautical Systems Wing here.

From concept development to system fielding, AFOTEC maintains an operational focus to ensure our warfighters have the right tools to win tomorrow's battles. AFOTEC testing evaluates new weapon systems in realistic battlespace environments providing decision makers accurate, balanced, and complete assessment of mission capability.

The capabilities evaluated by AFOTEC testing included mission generation, mission support, and enhancements to air-to-air and air-to-ground employment capabilities. The testing also evaluated corrections to several key deficiency areas noted in previous test and evaluation efforts.

AFOTEC results confirmed the F-22 provides the warfighter awesome lethality in both the air-to-air and air-to-ground roles. At the same time, the jet is now easier and less costly to maintain, resulting in improved sortie generation and a coveted "suitable" rating.

The AFOTEC test results come on the heels of a number of program successes: the F-22 AEF deployment to Japan earlier in the year further proved the capability of the aircraft and the warfighter's ability to generate sorties; the F-22 fleet has been flying Operation Noble Eagle missions since entering operations; the Raptor earned the 2006 Collier Trophy as the premier aerospace achievement in the country; and F-22's shined in their initial participation in Red Flag exercises.

The program has delivered 104 Raptors to date. There are now two full F-22 operational squadrons at Langley with another nearly full squadron of Raptors at Elmendorf, and there is now a brand new F-22 training facility at Sheppard AFB, Texas. In the future, a second squadron will be coming on line at Elmendorf, a squadron at Hickam and two squadrons at Holloman.

The F-22's combination of greater reliability, maintainability and availability combined with unmatched performance gives a tremendous advantage to our warfighters both on the ground and in the air. This advantage will continue as we add additional combat capability such as Small Diameter Bomb integration now undergoing F-22 testing at Edwards AFB, Calif.