1/18/2013 - JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii -- A team of F-22 Raptors and support personnel from the Hawaii Air National Guard's 199th Fighter Squadron and the active duty Air Force's 19th Fighter Squadron departed Hawaii Jan. 17 to participate in a Red Flag exercise at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. The exercise will run through February 1.
The fifth-generation fighter jets departed in small groups over the past few days, and the main body of approximately 140 personnel departed today. The exercise participation follows the F-22's initial operational capability that occurred in November 2012. Red Flag serves as the Hawaiian Raptors' first over-water deployment.
The F-22 is the Air Force's primary air superiority fighter providing unmatched capabilities for air supremacy and homeland defense. Positioning F-22s in the Pacific strengthens military-to-military relationships, promotes regional security, improves combined tactical air operations competence, and enhances interoperability of forces, equipment and procedures.
Red Flag is a realistic combat training exercise involving the air forces of the United States and its allies, and conducted on the vast bombing and gunnery ranges of the Nevada Test and Training Range. It is one of a series of advanced training programs administered by the United States Air Force Warfare Center.
Click here to view video of the F-22s departing Hickam to participate in the exercise.
