F-22 Raptor

F-22 Raptor
F-22 Raptor
Role	Stealth Air superiority fighter
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Boeing Integrated Defense Systems
First flight	YF-22: 29 September 1990[1] F-22: 7 September 1997[1]
Introduction	15 December 2005 FOC on 12 December 2007[2]
Status	In service[3]
Primary user	United States Air Force
Number built	145 as of September 2009,[4] (187 planned)
Program cost	US$65 billion[5]
Unit cost	US$142.6 million (2009 flyaway cost)[6]
Variants	X-44 MANTA FB-22

The Lockheed Martin/Boeing F-22 Raptor is a fifth-generation fighter aircraft that uses stealth technology. It was designed primarily as an air superiority fighter, but has additional capabilities that include ground attack, electronic warfare, and signals intelligence roles. Lockheed Martin Aeronautics is the prime contractor and is responsible for the majority of the airframe, weapon systems and final assembly of the F-22. Program partner Boeing Integrated Defense Systems provides the wings, aft fuselage, avionics integration, and all of the pilot and maintenance training systems.

The aircraft was variously designated F-22 and F/A-22 during the years prior to formally entering USAF service in December 2005 as the F-22A. Despite a protracted and costly development period, the United States Air Force considers the F-22 a critical component for the future of US tactical airpower, and claims that the aircraft is unmatched by any known or projected fighter,^[3] while Lockheed Martin claims that the Raptor's combination of stealth, speed, agility, precision and situational awareness, combined with air-to-air and air-to-ground combat capabilities, makes it the best overall fighter in the world today.^[7] Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, Chief of the Australian Defence Force, said in 2004 that the "F-22 will be the most outstanding fighter plane ever built."^[8]

The high cost of the aircraft, a lack of a clear air to air combat mission because of the lengthy delays in the Russian and Chinese fifth generation fighter programs, a US ban on export of the Raptor to other countries, and the development of the cheaper and more versatile F-35 have resulted in calls to end F-22 production. In April 2009 the US Department of Defense proposed to cease placing new orders, subject to Congressional approval, for a final procurement tally of 187 Raptors.^[9] The US Senate and House each passed 2010 budget bill versions without F-22 production funding in July 2009.^[10] Congress will combine these versions into one bill for presidential approval.

Specifications (F-22 Raptor)

General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Length: 62 ft 1 in (18.90 m)
• Wingspan: 44 ft 6 in (13.56 m)
• Height: 16 ft 8 in (5.08 m)
• Wing area: 840 ft² (78.04 m²)
• Airfoil: NACA 64A?05.92 root, NACA 64A?04.29 tip
• Empty weight: 43,430 lb (19,700 kg^[3][164])
• Loaded weight: 64,460 lb (29,300 kg^[165])
• Max takeoff weight: 83,500 lb (38,000 kg)
• Powerplant: 2× Pratt & Whitney F119-PW-100 Pitch Thrust vectoring turbofans, 35,000+ lb (156+ kN) each
• Fuel capacity: 18,000 lb (8,200 kg) internally,^[3][164] or 26,000 lb (11,900 kg) with two external fuel tanks^[3][164]

Performance

• Maximum speed:
  
  • At altitude: Mach 2.25 (1,500 mph, 2,410 km/h)^[76]
  • Supercruise: Mach 1.82 (1,220 mph, 1,963 km/h)^[76]
• Range: 1,600 nmi (1,840 mi, 2,960 km) with 2 external fuel tanks
• Combat radius: 410 nmi^[163] (471 mi, 759 km)
• Ferry range: 2,000 mi (1,738 nmi, 3,219 km)
• Service ceiling: 65,000 ft (19,812 m)
• Wing loading: 77 lb/ft² (375 kg/m²)
• Thrust/weight: 1.08 (1.26 with loaded weight & 50% fuel)
• Maximum g-load: -3.0/+9.0 g^[76]

USAF poster overview of key features and armament.

Armament

• Guns: 1× 20 mm (0.787 in) M61A2 Vulcan gatling gun in starboard wing root, 480 rounds
• Air to air loadout:
  • 6× AIM-120 AMRAAM
  • 2× AIM-9 Sidewinder
• Air to ground loadout:
  • 2× AIM-120 AMRAAM and
  • 2× AIM-9 Sidewinder for self-protection, and one of the following:
    • 2× 1,000 lb (450 kg) JDAM or
    • 2× Wind Corrected Munitions Dispensers (WCMDs) or
    • 8× 250 lb (110 kg) GBU-39 Small Diameter Bombs
• Hardpoints: 4× under-wing pylon stations can be fitted to carry 600 US gallon Sargent Fletcher drop tanks or weapons, each with a capacity of 5,000 lb (2,268 kg).^[166][167]

Avionics

• RWR (Radar warning receiver): 250 nmi (463 km) or more^[85]
• Radar: 125-150 miles (200-240 km) against 1 m² (11 sq ft) targets (estimated range)^[83]

PICTURES OF F-22 RAPTOR