Air Force to deploy Alaska-based F-22 Raptors to Guam

SUPERSONIC JET: Island's extensive airspace is seen as ideal for training.

By AUDREY McAVOY
The Associated Press

Published: May 23rd, 2008 12:45 AM
Last Modified: May 23rd, 2008 05:28 AM

HICKAM AIR FORCE BASE, Hawaii -- The top Air Force commander in the Pacific on Wednesday said a half dozen or more of the military's most advanced fighter jets will deploy to the U.S. territory of Guam this summer.

The F-22 Raptors -- which can fly at supersonic speeds for long periods -- will travel from Elmendorf Air Force Base, where they have been based since last year.

Gen. Carrol "Howie" Chandler said the primary objective of the exercise is to have the squadron practice deploying.

The F-22 has gone overseas just once since it became operational in 2005. Early last year, 12 Virginia-based Raptors traveled to Okinawa, Japan, for three months.

"The whole point of this is get the squadron used to being able to pack up and deploy as part of their overall mission," Chandler told a group of reporters at his Hawaii headquarters.

The Air Force is still working out deployment details, but Chandler said he expects the planes to hold joint drills with U.S. allies in the region, particularly Japan. The deployment will begin sometime in July or August.

Chandler said Guam is a great place for the exercises because the island offers extensive airspace for training. Guam is about three hours south of Tokyo by passenger jet and eight hours west of Honolulu.

STEALTHY FEATURES

The F-22s are unique, in part, because they can cruise at the supersonic speed of 1,000 mph. F-16 fighter jets can fly faster than the speed of sound but only for short periods.

Raptor technology gives pilots a clear picture of where enemies are in the battlefield even when they can't see the F-22.

Its stealthy features are designed to enable the F-22 to sneak past enemy radar, a characteristic seen in the F-117 Nighthawk but not in jets like the F-15 or F-16.

The jet proved itself during training exercises in Alaska in 2006 when F-22 planes scored "kills" against 144 fighter jets. The F-22 opponents in the war games, older model F-15s and F-16s, were unable to "kill" even one F-22.

The Air Force has announced plans to base an F-22 squadron in Hawaii, where it will replace F-15s, and in New Mexico, where it will replace F-117s.

The Hawaii Air National Guard's 199th Fighter Squadron, 154th Wing will be the first and only guard unit in the nation to fly its own F-22s when the jets start arriving in late 2010.

Chandler became Pacific Air Forces commander in November. He was previously the Air Force deputy chief of operations.

Source: http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/story/414802.html

Wait till you see the Raptor my friend. Nothing to really look at. The inspections on this thing are cake. The only real quirk I have with the Raptor is the AGE support it entails. Too much AGE.

Wait till you see the Raptor my friend. Nothing to really look at. The inspections on this thing are cake. The only real quirk I have with the Raptor is the AGE support it entails. Too much AGE.

Pacific briefs:

Air Force: F-22 Raptors to deploy to Guam

Stars and Stripes

The Air Force plans to send at least six F-22 stealth combat jets to Guam this summer. The F-22 Raptors will deploy from Alaska for drills to be conducted out of Guam with countries in the region, including Japan, Air Force officials said. Last year, a dozen Raptors from Virginia deployed to Okinawa for drills.

The F-22 is the Air Force´s newest fighter. Each $142 million plane can fly at supersonic speeds for long distances. It´s equipped with radar that can detect cruise missiles, and it can evade air defenses to hit ballistic missile launches.

From staff reports

Source: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?sect ... icle=55206