F-22 Raptor Thread

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"The Air Force, meanwhile, has somewhat shifted its position and endorsed the view that perhaps hitting drug labs is meant for light-attack aircraft such as the A-29 Super Tucano."

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In Syria Strike, F-22 Raptor Once Again Left on Combat Sidelines
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The F-22 Raptor is fast developing a reputation as the aircraft that gets left behind during combat ops.

The
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fifth-generation stealth fighter was not flying alongside a pair of
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bombers that dropped missiles on Syrian targets. Nor was it conducting overwatch in the area as the bombers for the first time deployed the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile-Extended Range in combat
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against a chemical lab and two equipment facilities, according to U.S. Air Force Central Command.
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"Among the options considered, leveraging the B-1B to launch stand-off weapons from outside Syrian airspace was the preferred [course of action] for a number of reasons, including minimal risk to aircrew and aircraft, and the precise destructive capability of the JASSM-ER," spokesman Lt. Col Damien Pickart told Military.com on Monday.

While British Tornado and Typhoon and French Rafale and Mirage fighters participated in the strike, Defense News
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that F-22s weren't present. Instead,
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electronic warfare aircraft provided support. (The B-1 itself also
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).

Some
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C Eagles and
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s were reportedly spotted as a part of the mission as well,
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.

Pickart said the F-22 had remained an option for the strike. But ultimately, it was the JASSM-ER's time to shine.

"The
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was available, but wasn't required for the operation as planned," he said. "That said, the F-22 is well suited for the defensive counter air mission it continues to conduct over Syria, protecting coalition and partners forces on the ground and in the air."

The F-22 missed out on previous combat opportunities last year. In separate incidents in June, F-15 Strike Eagles and an
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with adversarial aircraft.

On June 8 and again on June 20, Air Force
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shot down Iranian-made Shaheed drones over At Tanf as the unmanned aerial vehicles approached or dropped munitions near U.S.-backed forces on the ground.

On June 18, a Navy F/A-18E Super Hornet conducted the U.S. military's first air-to-air kill involving a manned aircraft in nearly two decades when it downed a hostile Su-22 Fitter south of Taqbah.

"We put the F-22s in the highest-threat areas as much as we can, but they can't be there 24/7," Brig. Gen. Charles Corcoran, commander of the 380th Expeditionary Wing, Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates,
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. The 380th houses the F-22 mission for the Middle East.

"Nobody's sad about not getting a kill," said Corcoran, himself an F-22 pilot. "We're happy that everyone's doing their job."

Officials told Military.com the F-22 isn't necessarily showcasing its role as an air-to-air fighter in the conflict. Instead, the twin-engine jet is doing more deconfliction of airspace than dog-fighting.

The plane has the ability to identify other aircraft, down to the airframe, and detect surface-to-air missiles and relay their existence to other friendly forces while maintaining a low-observable radar profile.

The Raptor finally made its combat debut in Afghanistan on Nov. 19, conducting
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to pummel suspected drug labs in the country with small diameter bombs.

Some criticized the use of such a high-end fighter for the role, but at the time, ground commanders and Air Force counterparts applauded the Raptor's employment.

The Raptor "was used because of its ability to deliver precision munitions, in this case, a 250-pound bomb, small-diameter, that causes the minimal amount of collateral damage,"
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Gen. John Nicholson, commander of the NATO-led Resolute Support mission and U.S. Forces Afghanistan, said at the time.

The Air Force, meanwhile, has somewhat shifted its position and endorsed the view that perhaps hitting drug labs is meant for light-attack aircraft such as the A-29 Super Tucano.

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, Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson made the case for the service's
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, "rather than taking out narcotics facilities in Afghanistan" fifth-gen fighters "like the F-22" can skip out on such missions and instead prepare for the high end fight against adversaries like Russia and China.

Similarly in February, Wilson told audiences the same thing during a Mitchell Institute breakfast.

"We should not use F-22s to destroy a narcotics factory in Afghanistan," she said,
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.
 
Thursday at 7:28 AM
...
In Syria Strike, F-22 Raptor Once Again Left on Combat Sidelines
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and (LOL) Syria Strike Story Shifting; AFCENT Says F-22s Flew Strike Cap, Basic JASSMs Used

4/20/2018
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Air Forces Central Command is correcting the record on the April 14 strikes inside Syria—the 19 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Munitions used in the mission were the older, standard version, not the extended range variant, which
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. In a statement to Air Force Magazine, AFCENT also now reports that F-22s were indeed flying in the area, ready to strike Syrian or Russian air defense systems and other assets if they threatened either coalition aircraft or US ground forces in the region.

“US Air Force F-22 Raptors played an integral role in protecting ground forces during and after the multinational strikes against Syrian chemical weapons production facilities on the morning of April 14,” AFCENT spokesman Capt. Mark Graff said. “Thanks to its unique fifth generation capabilities, the F-22 was the only airframe suited to operate inside the Syrian integrated air defense systems, offering an option with which to neutralize [Integrated Air Defense System] threats to our forces and installations in the region, and provide protective air support for US, coalition and partners on the ground in Syria.”

Graff declined to expand his comment to explain why the F-22s did not respond when Syria launched 40 surface-to-air missiles in the wake of the US-Anglo-French strike.

Russia has deployed S-400 air defense systems in Syria. More than simply a system to shoot down missiles or aircraft, it can also serve as a guided tactical ballistic missile system, with the ability to shoot ground targets, which may explain Graff’s suggestion that the Syrian IADS threatened “installations.”

In a briefing for reporters on April 14, Joint Staff Director Lt. Gen. Kenneth McKenzie said he did not know what US fighters escorted B-1s on the raid, acknowledging fighters were there but not specifically identifying the F-22. Later, Pentagon spokesmen said B-1B bombers, which launched the JASSMs, were escorted by Marine Corps EA-6B Prowler escort jamming aircraft. Neither the Pentagon nor AFCENT has recanted that information.

In an April 19 Pentagon press briefing, McKenzie said a contingent of fighter aircraft flying out of USAF bases in Europe provided protective overwatch of the USS Donald Cook in the Eastern Mediterranean during the strikes, but the ship was not threatened by Russian frigates in the region. Eyewitness reports have pegged those aircraft as F-15Cs from Lakenheath AB, UK, and Aviano AB, Italy, with tanker support from RAF Mildenhall, UK.

Pentagon spokesman Lt. Col. Damien Pickart told Military.com on Monday the standoff capability of the JASSMs was considered sufficient to “minimize risk to aircrew and aircraft.” The F-22, he said, “was available, but wasn’t required for the operation as planned.” He added, “That said, the F-22 is well-suited for the defensive counterair mission it continues to conduct over Syria, protecting coalition forces on the ground and in the air.”

The F-22 does not have a close air support mission. Its ground attack capacity rests with its ability to carry 1,000-pound JDAM satellite-guided missiles and 250-pound Small Diameter Bombs, also satellite-guided.

During the strikes, Russia’s advanced air defense systems in the area were “energized” but did not engage,” McKenzie said on April 19. The Syrian military’s older, Russian-made air defense systems attempted to engage US missiles, but almost all of the air defenses were fired after US, UK, and French missiles had already struck their targets, he said.

“Fifth generation platforms like the F-22 and the F-35 will continue to serve as the primary platforms capable of operating in the lethal threat rings of IADS environments like those found in Syria,” Graff added to his description of the F-22’s role in the April 14 strikes.

Graff also acknowledged the 19 stealth cruise missiles employed against Barzeh “were, in fact, not JASSM Extended Range (JASSM-ER) munitions” as reported by the Pentagon immediately following the attack. Rather, the munitions used were “JASSM-A, or the standard, non-extended range versions of the munition,” Graff said. He confirmed the attack marked the first use “of any variant of the JASSM.” The basic JASSM conducted its first flight in 1999, and has a range of about 275 miles, while the ER variant more than doubles that range to almost 600 miles. The two missiles are externally almost identical.

Air Combat Command chief Gen. Mike Holmes told Air Force Magazine on Monday that when attacking a chemical weapons complex, the release of toxins can be mitigated by hitting it with a large number of weapons, thus burning up the chemicals. Barzeh was hit by 76 US missiles—19 JASSMs and 57 Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles—with about 1,000 pounds of explosives each.

A top US military official told Air Force Magazine on April 17 that Barzeh stored mainly “precursor” chemicals, which had not yet been weaponized, so it should “not be surprising” that there were no dangerous toxins detected after the strike.
 

Air Force Brat

Brigadier
Super Moderator
Thursday at 7:28 AM
and (LOL) Syria Strike Story Shifting; AFCENT Says F-22s Flew Strike Cap, Basic JASSMs Used

4/20/2018
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Well Jura, honestly Bub, if you had read Oriana Pawlyk's headline and article to begin with, you would have realized its was a "dip-stick" piece, just from the STOOPID headline?? I mean really??? the Syrian/Russian air defense and nobody's minding the store?? and didn't you really wonder "why?" the Russians made NO ATTEMPT to engage and defend their "useful idiot" ?
 
Well Jura, honestly Bub, if you had read Oriana Pawlyk's headline and article to begin with, you would have realized its was a "dip-stick" piece, just from the STOOPID headline?? I mean really??? the Syrian/Russian air defense and nobody's minding the store?? and didn't you really wonder "why?" the Russians made NO ATTEMPT to engage and defend their "useful idiot" ?
LOL let's call it 'fog of war'
 

timepass

Brigadier
F-22 pilot forced to make rough belly landing after engine allegedly loses power during takeoff...

5ad44252146e7128008b49d8-750-375.jpg


"A U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor from the 3rd Air Force Wing at Elmendorf Air Force has been involved in an incident at NAS Fallon in western Nevada. The aircraft has been shown in photos posted to social media laying on the runway with the landing gear retracted. The aircraft appears largely intact. No injuries have been reported.

There has not been an official announcement of the cause of the incident, and an incident like this will be subject to an official investigation that will ultimately determine the official cause."

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Air Force Brat

Brigadier
Super Moderator
F-22 pilot forced to make rough belly landing after engine allegedly loses power during takeoff...

5ad44252146e7128008b49d8-750-375.jpg


"A U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor from the 3rd Air Force Wing at Elmendorf Air Force has been involved in an incident at NAS Fallon in western Nevada. The aircraft has been shown in photos posted to social media laying on the runway with the landing gear retracted. The aircraft appears largely intact. No injuries have been reported.

There has not been an official announcement of the cause of the incident, and an incident like this will be subject to an official investigation that will ultimately determine the official cause."

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what a skid mark on the runway, probably one of the most expensive skid marks in history, LOL,,,, WHAH!
 

Air Force Brat

Brigadier
Super Moderator
F-22 pilot forced to make rough belly landing after engine allegedly loses power during takeoff...

5ad44252146e7128008b49d8-750-375.jpg


"A U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor from the 3rd Air Force Wing at Elmendorf Air Force has been involved in an incident at NAS Fallon in western Nevada. The aircraft has been shown in photos posted to social media laying on the runway with the landing gear retracted. The aircraft appears largely intact. No injuries have been reported.

There has not been an official announcement of the cause of the incident, and an incident like this will be subject to an official investigation that will ultimately determine the official cause."

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Yep, this is just the latest "power outage/runway incident" for the F-22sky,,, you see she has SO MUCH thrust that you're lulled into a sense of "invincibility" in daily ops.. Now the Air Force jockeys were there to give the Navy an Axx Whipping,,, and they were no doubt illustrating the Raptor's signature departure which is lift off, remain "in ground effect" until probably at least 200knts, and then perform a neck snapping pitch transition to nearly vertical.... its very impressive.....

But NOT NEARLY as impressive as this,, so USAF will have "no joy" at this "Top Gun" and the Navy will be laughing their arses clean off, from "Here, to Eternity"! LOL you gotta laugh, somebody is prolly gonna be driving a desk, even with the engine failure, and this will be a 50 million dollar repair job,,, says it bounced down the runway for 1500 ft, and then slid another 5,000 ft...Holy Krap,, this guy knew he was so screwed......

so let me paint you a little picture, you "pop-off", suck the gear up, (the Raptor probably has the fastest retract sequence in the world),, feel the aircraft start to settle, its to late to put the gear down, probably??

So this is a "failure to attain, maintain flying speed" its classic, this situation should NEVER happen,,, yet even the Air Force Brat has sucked a RAM 335/Robertson STOL Cessna 414A conversion off the runway at 90knts,,, I was light, and the strip was short, and there were wires,, my neighbor slapped my hand,,, I also kinda whipped it into a low altitude turn right over the big hangar...

Now did I look so KOOL, well what do you think, I was very light, half fuel or less in my defense,, it did have a Ram 335 Horsepower conversion, and a full Robertson STOL kit, including drooping ailerons, and vortices generators on the wing, horizontal stab, and vertical stab,,, but "blue line" is 105 mph..

so the Raptor Jock, didn't realize he had lost and engine, had he realized he would have aborted, or just as well flown off on 1, which would have been absolutely "NO SWEAT!"

and yes, it can and does happen to anybody,,, the Law of GRAVITY is just exactly that, it is the LAW! physics do not play favorites, why I continue to have to remind folks here that doesn't matter if you're Chinese, Russian, or Western,,, I can tell a lot, well make that a "hell of a lot" about your airplane and its performance from looking at it and watching it fly,,,, LOL, there really are NOT many secrets in the Aviation business, and there aren't any 15,000lb J-20's or F-22's for that matter.
 

Air Force Brat

Brigadier
Super Moderator
14 minutes ago
plus there's more in

Retired General Says F-22 Production Was Killed So That A New Bomber Could Live
April 28, 2018
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I also read (but would take several posts)

Yes, a very poor trade for an aircraft that is capable of carrying a single weapon in the bomb bay rather than two?? for a mission that would be more appropriate for a "cruise missle",,, no wonder they are considering unmanned, who would want to ride that thing deep into bad guy land?? NOBODY in their right mind??

In any case to sacrifice the most capable fighter on the planet for the B-21 was a very, very bad decision!
 
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