US Air Force Reports Largest Deployment of F-22 Raptors

An F-22 Raptor cools down after a 10-hour flight Jan. 10 from Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, to Kadena Air Base, Japan. The aircraft is one of 12 deployed from Langley AFB, Va., as part of an air and space expeditionary force rotation. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Amanda Grabiec.)

Lt. Col. Orlando Sanchez removes his helmet after arriving with his F-22 Raptor squadron Jan. 18 to Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. The F-22s and more than 250 Airmen are deployed out of Elmendorf AFB, Alaska. Colonel Sanchez is the 90th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron commander. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Ryan Whitney.)

Maintainers prepare for the arrival of F-22 Raptors Jan. 18 deployed from Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, at Andersen AFB, Guam. Andersen AFB officials received 12 F-22s and more than 250 Airmen for a three-month deployment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Kevin J. Gruenwald.)

Focus on Defense:

HICKAM AIR FORCE BASE, Hawaii, Jan. 25, 2009 -- Twenty-four F-22 Raptors and hundreds of Airmen deployed to the Pacific region for a three-month deployment in support of the Pacific global deterrence mission.

Twelve F-22s deployed from Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, arrived Jan. 18 to Andersen AFB, Guam, and the week prior 12 F-22s from Langley AFB, Va., began arriving at Kadena Air Base, Japan.

The F-22s and Airmen are part of ongoing rotations of forces to ensure security and stability throughout the region. Members of both squadrons will conduct air combat training with Air Force and other U.S. military assets in the region.

F-22s are the Air Force's newest and most advanced fighter, combining stealth, maneuverability, supercruise capability and superior avionics to provide the U.S. with unmatched air dominance.

(Report from a U.S. Air Force news release.)

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