Moseley explained that the rationale behind Raptor’s redesignation as plain F-22 vice F/A-22 is simple: F/A is not really part of present-day Air Force nomenclature. He went on to say that it would have been equally reasonable to designate the new fighter with an RC or RW because its sensor and avionics suite is so powerful that it’s as capable as a Rivet Joint signals intelligence aircraft or a Compass Call electronic warfare aircraft, or many others in the intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance field. “We had no desire to call it an RC or EW or an F/A/EW/RC-22 something,” said Moseley.
Hawaii F-22s Wrap Up Deployment to Japan
April 9, 2021
F-22s and Airmen from Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, forward deployed to Japan for almost one month to train with Japanese and U.S. Marine Corps aircraft as part of a “dynamic force employment” operation. The Raptors from the Active-duty 19th Fighter Squadron and Air National Guard 199th Fighter Squadron deployed…