U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor aircraft assigned to the 90th Fighter Squadron takeoff at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, Oct. 6, 2020. An F-22’s combination of stealth, aerodynamic performance, integrated avionics system, sensor fusions and advanced weaponry are what make the jet superior to fourth-generation aircraft. F-22s are one of the U.S. Air Force’s premier stealth tactical fighter aircraft.
Despite the challenges of operating during the COVID-19 pandemic, the 3rd Wing set a new flying record in June, accomplishing 810 sorties. It is by far the highest number to date since the arrival of the F-22 Raptors here at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska.
In May 2019, U.S. Air Force Maj. Brad Short, then-3rd Wing chief of weapons and tactics, was conducting mission planning the same way it has been done since the 1940s: on a chalkboard, whiteboard or mapboard. He decided it was time to bring the process into the 21st century — to digitize and automate the process.
