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Lockheed completes inlet coating repair on F-22

By Richard Tomkins
The special coating on the air intakes of F-22 Raptors are being repaired at a new Lockheed Martin facility. Photo by Lockheed Martin
The special coating on the air intakes of F-22 Raptors are being repaired at a new Lockheed Martin facility. Photo by Lockheed Martin

Feb. 2 (UPI) -- Lockheed Martin has completed its first maintenance and repair of the special exterior coatings of an F-22 Raptor's inlets.

The coating contributes to the 5th-generation Raptor's Very Low Observable radar cross-section, or stealth, properties.

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The work was conducted at the company's Inlet Coating Repair Speedline facility in Marietta, Ga., built under a contract from the U.S. Air Force.

The F-22 repaired had arrived at the facility in early November. A second aircraft arrived in early December 2016 and a third late last month.

Lockheed Martin said a total of 12 Raptors are to undergo the inlet repairs but a follow-on contract is anticipated.

Lockheed Martin provides modification support services, analytical condition inspections, radar cross-section turntable support and antenna calibration in addition to the inlet repairs.

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