Lockheed denies media reports, says F-22 not joining final day of Aero India 2011
By ANIFriday, February 11, 2011
NEW DELHI - Stealth fighter F-22, the United States fifth-generation aircraft, is not coming to participate in the final day’s air show during Aero India 2011 being held at the Yelahanka Air Force station in Bangalore.
F-22 Raptor’s manufacturer Lockheed Martin has said the fighter aircraft is not coming for the Aero India 2011 that began on Wednesday.
A company spokesperson denied that the F-22 neither be flying nor be showcased as a static display.
“F-22 is not coming to India. At the best of my knowledge it will not be showcased on the last day of Aero India,” said Jack Giese of Lockheed Martin communication team.
According to the report emerging in media two F-22s were set to make its debut during Aero India 2011 in Bangalore. A Chinese news agency quoted an official from the Indian Defense Ministry as confirming that F-22 was likely to appear at the air show.
F-22 is not only the US most advanced stealth fighter with the radar cross section of merely a steel marble, also the most advanced stealth fighter in the world.
It entered the US Air Force service in December 2005, and it could carry out the tasks of air- to-air and air-to-ground attacks with the precision-guided weapons.
F-22 has been rarely seen outside the US, and its appearances in the international air shows were limited. As of January 2011, only three international air shows were joined by it, including UK’s Farnborough air show in 2008, Dubai air show in 2009 and Chile’s air show last year.
Aero India 2011 is Asia’s biggest air show, and over 100 civilian and military planes are on static show or flying display. It will last for five days ending on Sunday. (ANI)
