U.S. Air Force receives F-22 Raptor after maintenance at Lockheed's Speedline facility
NewsFebruary 03, 2017
MARIETTA, Ga. Engineers at Lockheed Martin completed maintenance on the U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor at the company's Inlet Coating Repair (ICR) Speedline facility and delivered the aircraft back to the Air Force.
In August 2016, U.S Air Force officials selected Lockheed Martin to establish the Speedline in Marietta, Georgia. The F-22 arrived in early November. A second aircraft arrived in early December 2016 and a third in late January 2017. Lockheed Martin is on contract to perform this work on a total of 12 aircraft. Additionally, the company is providing modification support services, analytical condition inspections, radar cross-section turntable support, and antenna calibration.
Periodic maintenance is required to maintain the special exterior coatings that contribute to the 5th Generation Raptor's Very Low Observable (VLO) radar cross-section. The increase in F-22 deployments, including ongoing operational combat missions, has increased the demand for ICR.
"The inlet coatings work, coupled with future improved Low Observable materials and repair improvements, is a critical part of increasing the 325th Fighter Wing's repair capacity and combat readiness," says Lt. Col. Argie Moore, deputy commander of the 325th Maintenance Group.
Lockheed Martin provides sustainment services to the F-22 fleet through a U.S. Air Force-awarded Performance Based Logistics contract and a comprehensive weapons management program called Follow-on Agile Sustainment for the Raptor (FASTeR).
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