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MARIETTA, GEORGIA (BNS): Lockheed Martin’s F-22 Raptor has returned to the skies in a series of test and production flights, the first since a four-month fleet stand down was lifted by the US Air Force.

The company said aircraft flown are preparing for delivery to the US Air Force.

F-22 final assembly line schedule was not impacted by the stand down and the team continues to roll out Raptors on time, with final aircraft completing in December 2011.

Specific delivery schedules and flight activities are being aligned in conjunction with customer specifications and testing parameters, it added.

The Raptor is the premier US fighter, with cutting-edge "fifth-generation" features, including shapes, materials and propulsion systems designed to make it appear as small as a swallow on enemy radar screens.