F/A-22 Raptor production funded though 2007

摘要

Despite concern that the U.S. Congress may make serious cuts to the program, Lockheed Martin (Marietta, Ga.) has been awarded a 2.9 billion dollars (USD) fixed-price contract by the U.S. Air Force for continued production of the P/A-22 Raptor through November 2007. The new Lot 5 production contract will increase the total number of contracted aircraft to 107. To date, 66 have completed final assembly; 53-of those have been delivered to the U.S. Air Force. The P/A-22 will be flying at four bases across the U.S., including operations with the 1st Fighter Wing's 27th Fighter Squadron at Langley Air Force Base, Va. The U.S. Air Force declared the F/A-22 Raptor had reached initial operational capability on Dec. 15, 2005. The designation permits the Air Force to deploy and support 12 F/A-22 Raptors for missions anywhere in the world.