The Pennsylvania Air National Guard is constructing a new 22,500-square-foot facility for its 112th Air Operations Squadron at State College, Pa., reports the Centre Daily Times. The 112th supports US Central Command Air Forces by planning and executing air operations, serving as a “manpower multiplier” for air operations centers in the US and abroad. The 112th, which used to provide mobile radar capability, transitioned to its current mission in 2001 and has operated from inadequate quarters. Its new building will be a state of the art operations center, complete with a training lab.
When Lt. Col. Dustin Johnson was ordered to deploy to the Middle East last year, he and his fellow F-22 Raptor pilots prepared for an unusual challenge. As the U.S.’s premier air superiority fighter, the F-22 was designed to take on advanced enemy aircraft, capable of maneuvering stealthily and cruising at…