F-22 Plus-Up Environmental Assessment - Joint Base Elmendorf ...

F-22 Plus-Up Environmental Assessment
1.0 Purpose and Need for F-22 Plus-Up at JBER
JBER F-22 aircraft can carry air-to-air missiles and a variety of conventional and Long Range
Standoff Weapons (LRSOW) for air-to-ground ordnance delivery. The F-22 has a 20-millimeter
multi-barrel cannon. Training in Alaskan airspace simulates air-to-air missiles by aircraft
exercising all aspects of the weapon system without actually launching an air-to-air missile.
Air-to-ground training with LRSOW would include flying to launch profiles and speeds at high
altitude with simulated launches. Existing Alaska conventional ranges would be used for
munitions training. Release profiles, altitudes, and speeds are now, and would continue to be,
limited to keep weapon safety footprints within established Alaskan ranges.
1.1.2 Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER)
JBER, located near Anchorage, Alaska, is the home of the Air Force’s Alaskan Command, 11 th
Air Force, Alaskan North American Air Defense region, and the 673d Air Base Wing, as well as
U.S. Army Alaska. The F-22 3rd Wing (3 WG) is comprised of two squadrons of F-22s (36
primary aircraft). JBER also is home to C-17 transports,
C-12 and E-3 aircraft, and CH-47 Chinook and UH-60
Blackhawk helicopters, all of which have been regularly
deployed to combat areas. JBER covers 84,000 acres,
including a 10,000-foot main runway and a 7,500-foot
cross-runway. Figure 1.0-1 presents JBER’s airfield and
operational area; the airfield and operational area is
referred to as JBER-Elmendorf. The Proposed Action
would include 103 additional personnel to support the
additional F-22 aircraft.
JBER has had multiple squadrons at different times
during its history.
JBER has extensive airspace for training (Figure 1.1-1), including overland MOAs and ATCAAs
which provide regular training airspace for the F-22s, other aircraft, and larger two-week
scheduled Major Flying Exercises (MFEs). Many of these airspaces permit supersonic flight and
allow the use of chaff and flares for defensive training. Existing Army Training Ranges provide
for local air-to-ground training for F-22 aircraft. No airspace modifications are proposed for the
additional F-22 aircraft; Chapter 2.0 of this EA describes the F-22 missions and training.
1.2 Purpose of F-22 Plus-Up at JBER
The purpose of the proposed plus-up of F-22 aircraft at JBER is to provide additional Air Force
capabilities at a strategic location to meet mission responsibilities for worldwide deployment.
This consolidation of F-22 operational aircraft would be designed to maximize combat aircraft
and squadrons available for contingencies. The plus-up of six F-22 primary aircraft and one
backup aircraft would fill out the existing JBER F-22 squadrons and provide enhanced
capabilities while efficiently using JBER facilities designed and constructed for the existing F-22
operational wing.
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