Selective Identification Feature Systems.--Stephen V Cole

The F-22 Raptor has launched its first missile. Raptor-002 fired an AIM-9M Sidewinder (into open air, not at a target) on 25 July over the China Lake test range. The system functioned perfectly as the weapons bay doors opened, the missile rail deployed, and the weapon cleared the rail under its own power and took up a stable flight path.--Stephen V Cole

August 18, 2000; Singapore has ordered 20 more F-16s. These are F-16Cs and F-16Ds of the Block-52 series. Lockheed Martin says it has enough export orders on its books (Bahrain, Egypt, UAE, Israel, and Greece) to keep the F-16 in production