News

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The F/A-22 Raptor, the Air Force's premier, state-of-the-art fighter aircraft, began its formal Initial Operational Test and Evaluation (IOT&E) today at Edwards Air Force Base, California.

IOT&E will evaluate the aircraft's lethality, survivability, deployability, and maintainability in a variety of operational missions.

"Today marks an important milestone for the Raptor", said Dr Marvin Sambur, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition. "The combination of the Raptor's advanced stealth, supercruise speeds, remarkable maneuverability, and highly integrated avionics ensure absolute Air Dominance in the coming decades," he said.

There are 24 Raptors flying today, with 36 more under construction. The Air Force expects to complete IOT&E in September of this year. Initial operational capability is scheduled for December 2005 at Langley AFB, VA.

For more information, please call the Lt Col Jennifer Cassidy or Maj Cheryl Law in the Secretary of the Air Force Office of Public Affairs, 703-695-0640.