Another Raptor flies again
On 4 May 2023, more than a year later than expected, the 90th Fighter Squadron at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (AK) received a refurbished Lockheed Martin F-22A Raptor within their operational inventory.
At first glance there seems nothing special about it. But the Functional Check Flight (FCF) at Elmendorf-Richardson on 4 May 2023 came after completion of a long rebuilding process that took five years.
On 23 December 2021, Scramble Magazine wrote about F-22A 07-4146, the next combat-ready USAF Raptor to be reinstated.
Only 187 operational F-22 Raptors were produced, with the final jet leaving the Lockheed Martin Aeronautics assembly line in December 2011.
Because of this, restoring tail number 07-4146 to mission-capable status was necessary for the capabilities of USAF's complete Raptor inventory.
At this moment, within the higher US MoD and USAF ranks, some serious debating is going on about the divesting of some two dozen Raptors. This still remains to be seen as the recent National Defense Authorisation Act (NDAA) prevents any Raptor from being divested off.
Credit photos: USAF