Original URL: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/02/28/f22s_working_again/
US Superfighter software glitch fixed
Jets can now cross Pacific, Far East safe for democracy again
Posted in Science, 28th February 2007 10:59 GMT
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Significant new capabilities have been added to the US Air Force's latest superfighter, the F-22 "Raptor". The USAF's Raptors cost more than $300m each, and are generally thought to be the most advanced combat jets in service worldwide. However, until recently they were unable to cross the international date line owing to a software bug in their navigation systems.
A group of F-22s heading across the Pacific for exercises in Japan earlier this month suffered simultaneous total nav-console crashes as their longitude shifted from 180 degrees West to 180 East.
Luckily, the superjets were accompanied by tanker planes, whose navigation kit was somewhat less bleeding-edge and remained functional. The tanker drivers were able to guide the lost top-guns back to Hawaii and the exercises were postponed.
"Every time we fly this jet we learn something new," Raptor squadron commanding officer Lt-Col Wade Tolliver said.
But enemies of democracy who may have been planning an opportunistic attack on Hawaii followed by a retreat to safety across the date line shouldn't get their hopes up. The software bug has been rectified, and the Raptors have now successfully [1] travelled to Kadena Air Base in Japan, where air-combat exercises are now well underway.
"This is history in the making," said Brigadier Punch Moulton, commanding the Kadena-based 18th Wing.
The deployment is expected to last more than three months. ®