HAWAII-BASED F-22 RAPTORS ACHIEVE FULL OPERATIONAL CAPABILITY
Posted on Apr 7, 2013 in In The News, News Release, Video
HAWAII-BASED F-22 RAPTORS ACHIEVE FULL OPERATIONAL CAPABILITY
WHEN: Sunday, April 7
WHAT: The Hawaii Air National Guard (HIANG) and the U.S. Air Force declare
Full Operational Capability (FOC) of Hawaii-based F-22 aircraft
WHO: Members of the HIANG’s 199th Fighter Squadron and the active duty’s
19th Fighter Squadron (Those squadrons fall under the 154th Wing and 15th
Wing, respectively.)
WHERE: Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam
The Hawaii Air National Guard’s 199th Fighter Squadron and the active duty
Air Force’s 19th Fighter Squadron have achieved Full Operational Capability
(FOC) status. FOC means the units are combat capable and can deploy a
majority or all of their F-22s Raptors, the world’s most advanced fighter,
for any contingency operation.
“Yesterday, we launched and recovered 46 F-22 Raptor sorties in very quick
succession using 14 of our available aircraft. That’s a very high aircraft
utilization and employment rate for any fighter squadron. This clearly
demonstrates our ability to deploy our Hawaiian Raptors anytime, anywhere as
part of U.S. PACOM’s security and stability objectives,” said Brig. Gen.
Braden Sakai, 154th Wing commander. “FOC is an important milestone in the
multi-year process of bringing F-22s to Hawaii,” said Col. Johnny Roscoe,
15th Wing commander. “We can now unequivocally state that the 19th and
199th Fighter Squadrons are fully trained, equipped and prepared to defend
America’s interests whenever and wherever they may be called upon to do so”.
The F-22A Raptor is capable of both air-to-air, as well as air-to-ground
combat and is the Air Force’s primary air superiority fighter providing
unmatched capabilities for air supremacy and homeland defense.
The fifth-generation F-22 Raptor has unparalleled stealthiness, supercruise,
unmatched maneuverability and improved sustainability that would enable the
aircraft to strike deep and fast, day or night, paving the way for friendly
air, ground and naval forces to operate freely; gather and distribute
intelligence across the battlefield; and even engage incoming missiles.
Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam is home to a total of 20 F-22 Raptors. The
HIANG converted from F-15s to F-22s beginning in July 2010. The HIANG and
the active duty Air Force share responsibility for flying and maintaining
the F-22s.
Video and/or stills of yesterday’s F-22 flight operations can be found at:
https://www.dvidshub.net/video/
ber-sorties#.UWGXr-NZ6-s