Air Force Sheds “A,” Returns to F-22:

During a speech an Air National Guard conference in Baltimore, Gen. Michael Moseley, Air Force Chief of Staff, told the audience that USAF senior leaders had decided to re-designate the F/A-22 as just plain F-22. The move returns the new stealth fighter to its original pre-2002 designation. In September 2002, Air Force leaders heralded the addition of an “A” to emphasize its ground-attack capability. We are told that the switchback does not signify an end to pursuit of the Raptor’s ground-attack role. Watch this space for the formal announcement.