The F-22 Raptor Facts: 30 Things to Know

First Combat Flight Wasn’t Until 2014

This F-22A Raptor #03-4058 from the 27th Fighter Squadron "Fighting Eagles" located at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, fires an AIM-120 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) and an AIM-9M sidewinder heat-seeking air-to-air missile at an BQM-34P "Fire-bee" subscale aerial target drone over the Gulf of Mexico during a Combat Archer mission. The unit was deployed to Tyndall AFB, Florida to support the Air-to-Air Weapons System Evaluation Program hosted by the 83rd Fighter Weapons Squadron also located at Tyndall.

While the F-22 first began development in the late 1990s, you may be surprised to learn it didn’t complete its first combat mission until 2014. The mission involved targeting and striking an ISIS command and control building in Syria. According to news reports, the mission was a success. However, since it is fully operational since 2005, so why wasn’t the Raptor used in combat before? According to the Air Force, the high tech (and extremely expensive) jet just wasn’t necessary. Some may question if the reported oxygen issues perhaps were to blame. One of the surprising F-22 facts is that between 2008 and 2012, more than 24 reports surfaced of pilots suffering from oxygen deprivation symptoms while flying the F-22. It’s hard to know for sure, but its good to have proof these aircrafts can do their job when needed.