Aerospace World

摘要

The F-22A Raptor was officially declared operational on Dec. 15, meeting a target set years ago. Gen. Ronald E. Keys, head of Air Combat Command, certified that he has enough aircraft, maintenance crews, spares, and pilots to take the F-22A to war if needed. The 27th Fighter Squadron at Lang-ley AFB, Va., had 21 Raptors by the end of December and will have a full complement of 24 by spring. In June, a dozen of the aircraft will participate in Northern Edge exercises in Alaska, and Keys said he expects to send the squadron on a road trip through the Pacific sometime soon afterward. A second unit, the 94th FS, is expected to be fully equipped in October.