The F-22A Raptor will make its Pacific theater debut in June when 12 of the new stealth fighters from the 1st Fighter Wing at Langley AFB, Va., participate in Alaska’s Northern Edge 2006 exercise. Hosted by US Alaskan Command, the exercise comprises about 5,000 active and reserve personnel primarily from Pacific Air Forces, US Army Alaska, Marine Forces Pacific, US Pacific Fleet, and US Special Operations Command Pacific.
The Air Force in October carried out a homeland defense mission, with jets including F-16 Fighting Falcons, in Alaska’s remote Aleutian Islands to show a base there could safeguard the northern regions.