fbpx window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'UA-107039941-1');

The F-22 Raptor Facts: 30 Things to Know

Date:
By:

27th Fighter Squadron Were First To Receive F-22s

F-22 deployed to 27th fighter squadron
Two F-22A Raptors taxi down the runway. A squadron of F-22 Raptors is scheduled to deploy to Kadena Air Base, Japan, as part of U.S. Pacific Command's Theater Security Package in the Western Pacific in early 2007. This will be the first overseas deployment for the Air Force's newest fighter.
Tech. Sgt. Ben Bloker, U.S. Air Force

Despite beginning development in the early 1990s, it wasn’t until December 15, 2005 that the F-22A Raptor achieved Initial Operational Capacity. The road to get there was long and arduous from acquisitions, developments, testing, and training among a variety of different providers and collaborators. The first combat-ready F-22 Raptors were sent and assigned to the 27th Fighter Squadron based out of Langley, VA. The Squadron is comprised of 12 aircraft that act as one deployable package, capable of both air to air and air to ground combat. This same Squadron completed the first mission using F-22s in Syria in 2014.