LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. — Completing another milestone in F-22A Raptor history, 27th Fighter Squadron aircraft and personnel returned from southwest Asia Dec. 16 after six raptors and squadron support personnel were deployed to the region for a 40-day multi-national training exercise.

This was the fifth-generation aircraft’s first deployment to southwest Asia, where 27th FS and coalition partners engaged in simulated air-to-air combat while training in an arid environment. The Air Force is meeting its on-going commitments and security obligations by maintaining a flexible and credible presence in southwest Asia.

The first real-world deployment for America’s newest fighter jet was in 2007 to Kadena Air Base, Japan, soon after obtaining full-operational capability. In 2008, the Raptor completed its first trans-Atlantic deployment to participate in the 2008 Royal International Air Tattoo and the Farnborough International air show.