Article Posted on : - Jul 13, 2010

F-22 Raptor at the Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. Photo: USAF.

HAWAII (BNS): The 199th Fighter Squadron (FS) of US Air Force has received their first F-22 aircraft at the Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. This fifth generation fighter will replace the existing F-15 Eagle that has been used by the squadron since 1987.

The 199th FS is the first guard unit to receive the F-22.

"The 199th FS members have proved that National Guard forces are capable of maintaining a strategic presence with its active duty association and providing a great value to our nation and the state of Hawaii," said Gen. Craig R. McKinley, the chief of the National Guard Bureau in a USAF news release.

The F-22 raptor is a single-seat, twin engine aircraft that utilises stealth technology, which was originally designed as an air superiority fighter.

"These F-22 Raptors are the state-of-the-art air superiority fighter and couldn't be located at a better place," General McKinley said.

The 199th FS, 15th Air Wing will fly and help to maintain the F-22s that bring a new capability to the Hawaii Air National Guard (HIANG), as well as the US Air Force.