F-22 IOC Declared

The US Air Force announced on 15 December that the F-22 reached initial operational capability, or IOC. The F-22 is now certified ready for employment in combat or in homeland defense missions and is supported by a properly trained and equipped force. The first combat-ready Raptors are assigned to the 27th Fighter Squadron at Langley AFB, Virginia. The Air Force also announced it was reverting to the aircraft's original F-22 designation instead of F/A-22. The more precise designation is F-22A, with the "A" denoting the first model configuration. Future significant upgrades will result in a model change, such as F-22B or F-22C.