The F-22 Raptor is quickly filling the shoes of the F-15’s that have been grounded since a November 2nd crash in Missouri. Over the Thanksgiving holiday, two Alaska-based Raptors had their first encounter with Russian bombers:
Two Raptors from the 90th Fighter Squadron at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, scrambled to identify and escort two Russian Bear-H bombers as they approached Alaskan airspace Nov. 22, said Maj. Allen Herritage, a spokesman for the Alaska region of the North American Aerospace Defense Command, or NORAD.
It marked the first time a Raptor has intercepted unknown aircraft or launched in support of a NORAD mission, Herritage said.
The Raptors performed the mission because F-15s at Elmendorf are grounded due to safety concerns raised by a Nov. 2 crash. Canadian CF-18 fighters filled in for two weeks in November before the Raptors took over, Herritage said. The Canadian jets performed several such intercepts.
There are currently 183 Raptors in service or in production, and the Air Force is hoping to more than double the fleet by another 200.
http://www.av8rconnection.com/f-22-raptor-meets-russians-for-the-first-time/
http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2007/12/airforce_f22_intercept_071227w/
http://live.cnews.ru/RAND/17276/
http://www.vpk-news.ru/article.asp?pr_sign=archive.2008.217.articles.names_01
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January 21, 2008 at 6:13 am