The final F-22 Raptor fighter jet to be produced for the Air Force is displayed before being rolled off the Lockheed Martin assembly line during a ceremony Dec. 13, 2011, in Marietta, Ga. The jet is the last of 187 F-22s produced for the Air Force completing its operational fleet. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Danielle Purnell)
The final F-22 Raptor fighter jet to be produced for the Air Force is rolled off the Lockheed Martin assembly line during a ceremony Dec. 13, 2011, in Marietta, Ga. The jet is the last of 187 F-22s produced for the Air Force completing its operational fleet. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Senior Airman Danielle Purnell)
by Senior Airman Danielle Purnell
94th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
12/15/2011 - MARIETTA, Ga. (AFNS) -- The final F-22 Raptor to be built for the U.S. Air Force, tail number 4195, rolled off the Lockheed Martin Aeronautics assembly line during a ceremony Dec. 13 at the company's Marietta plant.
The fighter jet is the last of 187 F-22s produced, marking a bittersweet moment for members of the F-22 team.
It has been a memorable journey, said Shan Cooper, the Lockheed Martin Aeronautics company vice president and Marietta site general manager. The first part was created here in 1994. The jet was placed on the assembly line in 1995 and then first rolled out in 1997. Today we mark a graduation of sorts as we roll the last F-22 off this assembly line and get it ready to go out and defend America.
"While the Raptor itself is eye-watering, the people on Team Raptor have made the F-22 what it is today," Cooper said.
Lockheed Martin's Aeronautics division employs about 2,000 people for the F-22 program at its Marietta facility. Together, the team built the first 5th generation fighter with world-class results.
"You reduced the labor hours by 300 percent," said Jeff Babione, Lockheed Martin's F-22 program manager. "You've delivered 55 zero-defect jets to date, and you have had more than five years of on-time deliveries."
Tail No. 4195 is the culmination of all those successes. It is the 195th F-22 to roll off the line and into the Air Force fleet. Eight of those jets were built for developmental purposes.
The F-22 combines stealth, advanced sensors and advanced air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons that makes it possible for the aircraft to cruise faster than the speed of sound without being detected.
However, the $143 million price tag per aircraft, along with the current state of the economy and changes in the military requirements for post Cold-War challenges, lead government officials to the decision to officially cease production of the F-22 in 2009.
This is why we must create a more economical fighter aircraft, said Col. Sean Frisbee, the F-22 system program manager at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.
While the ceremony marked the end of an era for the F-22, the shutdown of the production line also signified the beginning of a new chapter of sustaining and upgrading the Raptor.
"This is only the beginning," Frisbee said. "The next phase will include greater capability to an already incredible aircraft."
The final Raptor will enter a series of company and government flight tests, according to Lockheed Martin officials. Tail No. 4195 will then be delivered in May to the 3rd Wing's 525th Fighter Squadron, commanded by Lt. Col. Paul Moga, at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska.
Comments
1/3/2012 2:10:17 AM ET Nah, no air war is necessary, but it'd be nice to see it used for it's additional capabilities, even with it's limited air-to-ground carrying capability. Better than being a 143 million papwerweight.
MM, FL
12/21/2011 12:40:01 PM ET Great. Another plane that will serve no true purpose other than to WOW people at airshows. I thought we already had the Thunderbirds to do that. I just love how the USAF avoids putting anything on their website about the negative things about the F-22. For example, blaming the pilot for the crash in 2010 in Alaska. Sorry. Mechanical error caused that crash not the pilot. Back when I entered the Air Force in the late 80's, accountability meant something. Now our senior leadership has lost the bubble and a once mighty Air Force is quickly tranistioning into the Air Farce. So Sad.
So Sad, Pentagon
12/21/2011 10:06:29 AM ET Reply to MM FL: What do you want the US to do, start a war just to use the F-22? Do you know that no American soldier has been strafed or bombed by an enemy aircraft since 1953? Do you know that this is because the US military owns the sky? Do you want to go back to having cheap mediocre aircraft that would put the US military on equal par in the air with any potential enemy? I'm glad the US military has the air superiority available to them so our soldiers on the ground can do their job without having to worry about an enemy aircraft. may it stay that way.
CS FL, Tyndall AFB
12/20/2011 10:56:09 AM ET The intent is to create a weapon that is soo far ahead of the enemy that they dare not challenge it. I'm talking something so superior that the enemy air, ground or sea based simply refuses to stand against it. The anti-climatic weapon is the best weapon and it doesn't matter the monitary price. I feel that many America's don't see the value in certain weapons systems because we haven't had the fear of hearing enemy aircraft overhead or enemy troops or armor in our streets. 911 in one thing, but foreign soldiers kicking in your door would be another.
gabe, moody
12/20/2011 9:18:23 AM ET Nope, Just big static displays. See more with red ropes around them than actually in the air.
j. cargo, UK
12/19/2011 12:59:06 PM ET Well the F22 can be used for ADC work, how better to protect our 20-mile primeter around the USA? I remember sometimes meeting the ADC F4E Phantoms as they came in from a scramble because someone penetrated our costal air space near Georgia. That did not work out so well because of low visability, there was a mid air contact with a small King Air aircraft, which left a prop cut gouge in the forward right wing, but he managed to return to base in tact. We need ADC aircraft, but maybe the SJ F15Es do that roll now, not sure since it has been 20 years since I retired. Time flies, have fun while you can. Happy Holidays
SNCO Ret, Ohio nr WPAFB
12/19/2011 8:57:04 AM ET Gotta love it when programs like the F22 fall flat, proving that throwing tax dollars into the pockets of defense contractors is a real waste. Please learn from this and continue to invest in your people and not projects.
SB, Texas
12/18/2011 3:17:08 PM ET DETERRENCE What it was designed for.
JJ, FL
12/17/2011 10:10:54 AM ET The 1980's Peace Through Strength motto comes to mind. They change the thinking of rogue governments. The F-35 will add to that change.
Scott Retired SMSgt , Florida
12/16/2011 9:35:20 PM ET Zero-defect jets. What about the defective OBOGS that LM now has a multi million dollar contract to fix. Great business model. LM should fix the OBOGS for free and apologize to the family of the pilot that paid the ultimate price for flying their zero defect jet.
Chingu, Osan AB
12/16/2011 1:53:45 PM ET The uploaded text was unkind to my punctuation.
GA, UT
12/16/2011 10:30:41 AM ET MM: Let's hope not. When have we truly used our F-15Cs last Gulf War I'm in no rush to see these things used.
GA, UT
12/16/2011 5:07:38 AM ET so are they ever actually going to be used for anything?
