F-22 readies for production: Air Force exercises contract options

Released: 30 Dec 1998

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE Ohio (AFPN) -- The F-22 Raptor program, which is developing America's next-generation air superiority fighter, exercised firm-fixed-price contract options Dec. 28 with F-22 prime contractors. The prime contractors are Lockheed Martin Corp. and United Technologies Corp. (Pratt & Whitney), and involve two Production Representative Test Vehicle aircraft, six engines, and calendar 1999 program support.

Lockheed Martin leads the Air Force's air-vehicle contractor team that includes two Lockheed Martin divisions: Aeronautical Systems, Marietta, Ga., and Tactical Aircraft Systems, Fort Worth, Texas. Additional team members are Boeing in Seattle; and United Technologies Corp. (Pratt & Whitney), West Palm Beach, Fla., which provides the Raptor's F-119 power-plant.

The Lockheed Martin portion of the PRTV effort is approximately $574 million, including about $71 million for PRTV advanced procurement, and associated program support originally awarded June 30. The UTC (Pratt & Whitney) portion of the PRTV contract award totals approximately $93.9 million, representing a face-value increase of $93.4 million.

The PRTV aircraft will be designated to support dedicated initial operational test and evaluation of the F-22 beginning in 2002 at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.

Prior to award of the PRTV contracts, the Department of Defense conducted a review Dec. 17 to confirm that specific DOD program criteria, as defined by a series of test points, had been successfully met. The criteria included several flight-test milestones, all of which were met or exceeded by Oct. 10, within the first 90 hours of flight tests. Two other software milestones also were met ahead of schedule.

In addition, the F-22 Combined Test Force at Edwards, charged with flight testing the new fighter, successfully completed a Congressionally mandated, flight-hour requirement last month, when the two flight-test aircraft soared past the 183 flight-hour mark. The mark, needed to unblock funds designated for Lot 1 advanced procurement, was achieved more than a month ahead of schedule and three days before a Thanksgiving target date set by Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Michael Ryan.

The F-22 is being developed to counter lethal threats posed by advanced, surface-to-air missile systems and next-generation fighters equipped with launch-and-leave missiles. It is widely regarded as the most advanced fighter in the world, combining low-observable, advanced avionics and supercruise technologies with reduced support requirements and maintenance costs. It will replace the aging F-15 as America's front-line, air superiority fighter, with deliveries beginning in 2002.