USAF to consolidate F-22 fleet

Key - Gary Parsons

30 July 2010

The USAF is to axe one F-22 squadron.
 

July 30: The US Air Force has announced it is to consolidate its F-22 fleet by deactivating one squadron at Holloman Air Force Base (AFB) in New Mexico and moving a second squadron to Tyndall AFB in Florida.

The F-22s released by the disbandment of one squadron will be redistributed to existing units at Elmendorf in Alaska (six aircraft), Langley AFB in Virginia (six aircraft) and Nellis AFB in Nevada (two aircraft).

“This plan maximises combat aircraft and squadrons available for contingencies,” said Kathleen Ferguson, deputy assistant secretary for installations. “By consolidating aircraft at existing bases, F-22 operational flexibility is enhanced.”

Holloman currently houses the 7th and 8th Fighter Squadrons of the 49th Fighter Wing and it is not known which unit will be deactivated.

The US Air Force has also confirmed that tooling for the F-22 will be retained after the production line in Marietta, Georgia shuts down in 2012. With the number of aircraft capped by Congress to 187 aircraft, the retention of tooling means that new F-22s could be built in future years if necessary.

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