F-22 Raptor aircraft take-off
A U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor aircraft assigned to the 3rd Wing takes off during a routine training sortie at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, Feb. 20, 2026. As a critical component of the Global Strike Task Force, these Alaska-based F-22s are designed to rapidly project air dominance at great distances, defeating anti-access threats and ensuring the sovereignty of North American airspace. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Theodore Gowdy)