Representatives from the Air Force and Lockheed Martin gathered to see the roll-out of Pacific Air Forces' first F-22 Raptor Feb 12 at Marietta, Ga. This F-22 is the first of several that will be assigned to PACAF at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska. The F-22 performs both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions allowing full realization of operational concepts vital to the 21st century Air Force.(U.S. Air Force/Eric Sollinger)
Gen. John D.W. Corley, the vice chief of staff from Headquarters U.S. Air Force, speaks during the acceptance ceremony for Pacific Air Force's first F-22 Raptor Feb. 12 at Marietta, Ga. This F-22 is the first of several that will be assigned to PACAF at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska. The F-22 aerodesign, advanced flight controls, thrust vectoring, and high thrust-to-weight ratio provide the capability to outmaneuver all current and projected aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo/John Rossino)
Gen. Paul V. Hester speaks during the acceptance ceremony for Pacific Air Force's first F-22 Raptor Feb 12 at Marietta, Ga. General Hester is the Pacific Air Forces commander. This F-22 is the first of several that will be assigned to PACAF at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska. The F-22's combination of stealth, supercruise, maneuverability, and integrated avionics, coupled with improved supportability, represents an exponential leap in warfighting capabilities. (U.S. Air Force photo/John Rossino)
Representatives from the Air Force and Lockheed Martin gathered to see the roll-out of Pacific Air Forces' first F-22 Raptor Feb 12 at Marietta, Ga. This F-22 is the first of several that will be assigned to PACAF at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska. The F-22 possesses a sophisticated sensor suite allowing the pilot to track, identify, shoot and kill air-to-air threats before being detected. (U.S. Air Force photo/Angela Tyson)
Representatives from the Air Force and Lockheed Martin gathered to see the roll-out of Pacific Air Forces' first F-22 Raptor Feb 12 at Marietta, Ga. This F-22 is the first of several that will be assigned to PACAF at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska. Significant advances in cockpit design and sensor fusion improve the pilot's situational awareness. (U.S. Air Force photo/Angela Tyson)
Representatives from the Air Force and Lockheed Martin gathered to see the roll-out of Pacific Air Forces' first F-22 Raptor Feb 12 at Marietta, Ga. This F-22 is the first of several that will be assigned to PACAF at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska. The F-22 aerodesign, advanced flight controls, thrust vectoring, and high thrust-to-weight ratio provide the capability to outmaneuver all current and projected aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo/Angela Tyson)
Representatives from the Air Force and Lockheed Martin gathered to see the roll-out of Pacific Air Forces' first F-22 Raptor Feb 12 at Marietta, Ga. This F-22 is the first of several that will be assigned to PACAF at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska. The F-22 aerodesign, advanced flight controls, thrust vectoring, and high thrust-to-weight ratio provide the capability to outmaneuver all current and projected aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo/John Rossino)
Gen. John D.W. Corley, the vice chief of staff from Headquarters U.S. Air Force, speaks during the acceptance ceremony for Pacific Air Force's first F-22 Raptor Feb. 12 at Marietta, Ga. This F-22 is the first of several that will be assigned to PACAF at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska. The F-22's combination of stealth, supercruise, maneuverability, and integrated avionics, coupled with improved supportability, represents an exponential leap in warfighting capabilities. (U.S. Air Force photo/John Rossino)
by Senior Airman Anthony Kuhn
Air Force News Agency
2/14/2007 - MARIETTA, Ga. (AFNEWS) -- Representatives from the Air Force and Lockheed Martin gathered to accept Pacific Air Forces' first F-22 Raptor Feb. 12 at Marietta, Ga.
This latest F-22 will be among 36 others that will make up the first F-22s assigned to PACAF at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska.
Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens said the F-22 will play a key role is guaranteeing American superiority of the sky over the Pacific.
"General Billy Mitchell once observed this: Alaska is the most strategic place in the world ... whoever holds Alaska will hold the world," Senator Stevens said.
The F-22 is the Air Force's newest fighter aircraft. Its combination of stealth, supercruise, maneuverability, and integrated avionics, coupled with improved supportability, represents an exponential leap in warfighting capabilities. The F-22 performs both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions allowing full realization of operational concepts vital to the 21st century Air Force.
Gen. Paul V. Hester, the PACAF commander, said the F-22 will show America's continued commitment to maintain peace and stability in the Pacific.
"An important part of this business is to know and show the foes of America ... who stand against our allies and friends ... that you have the capacity, the capability, as well as the will to use that power," General Hester said.
