Advanced Tactical Fighter

Advanced Tactical Fighter
Name	Advanced Tactical Fighter
Type	Air superiority fighter
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	Lockheed Corporation, Northrop Corporation
First flight	29 December 1990
Introduction	15 December 2005
Status	In service
Primary user	United States Air Force
Number built	800+ (as of 2023)
Developed from	Lockheed YF-22, Northrop YF-23
Developed into	Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor

Advanced Tactical Fighter. The Advanced Tactical Fighter was a United States Department of Defense program initiated in the 1980s to develop a next-generation air superiority fighter to counter emerging threats from the Soviet Union. The competition ultimately produced the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor, a fifth-generation jet fighter incorporating stealth technology, supercruise capability, and advanced avionics. The program represented a significant leap in combat aircraft design and solidified United States Air Force dominance in aerial warfare for decades.

Development and origins

The genesis of the program can be traced to studies within the United States Air Force and Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency during the late 1970s, which identified future threats from advanced Soviet designs like the Mikoyan MiG-29 and Sukhoi Su-27. Formal development was launched in 1981 under the Next Generation Tactical Fighter study, with a formal request for proposals issued in 1983. Two contractor teams, Lockheed/Boeing/General Dynamics and Northrop/McDonnell Douglas, were selected in 1986 to build prototype aircraft, designated the Lockheed YF-22 and Northrop YF-23 respectively. The Demonstration and Validation phase culminated in a competitive fly-off at Edwards Air Force Base, with the Lockheed YF-22 selected as the winner in April 1991.

Design and specifications

The winning design emphasized a combination of stealth technology, supermaneuverability, and integrated avionics. Key features included serpentine inlets to shield engine faces from radar, extensive use of composite materials, and thrust vectoring for enhanced agility. The aircraft was designed to supercruise, or sustain supersonic flight without using fuel-guzzling afterburners. Its advanced AN/APG-77 AESA radar and sensor fusion provided unparalleled situational awareness. Armament was carried internally in weapons bays to preserve its radar cross-section, with plans for AIM-120 AMRAAM and AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles, along with a M61 Vulcan cannon.

Operational history

Following the selection of the Lockheed YF-22, the engineering and manufacturing development phase began, leading to the first flight of the production-representative F-22 Raptor in 1997. Initial operational capability was declared with the 1st Fighter Wing at Langley Air Force Base in December 2005. The aircraft saw its first combat deployment in 2014, conducting strikes against Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant targets in Syria as part of Operation Inherent Resolve. Its primary role has been as a combat air patrol and air dominance platform, with its sophisticated sensors also proving valuable in intelligence gathering. High operational costs and a shifting strategic focus led to the cessation of production in 2011.

Variants

The primary production variant is the F-22A Raptor, the sole model accepted into service. Earlier developmental aircraft included the two Lockheed YF-22 prototypes and several F-22 engineering and manufacturing development airframes. A proposed two-seat F-22B variant for training was canceled early in the program. Studies for navalized versions, sometimes referred to as the F-22N, were briefly considered but never pursued. The FB-22, a proposed strike fighter/bomber derivative with a larger delta wing, remained a concept only.

Operators

The sole operator is the United States Air Force. The aircraft is operated by active duty units including the 1st Fighter Wing at Joint Base Langley–Eustis, the 325th Fighter Wing at Tyndall Air Force Base, and the 3rd Wing at Joint Base Elmendorf–Richardson. The Air Combat Command and Pacific Air Forces are the primary major commands. The Air Force Reserve Command's 477th Fighter Group at Joint Base Elmendorf–Richardson and the Air National Guard's 192nd Wing at Joint Base Langley–Eustis also operate the type. Export was prohibited by federal law, specifically the Obey Amendment.

Aircraft on display

Several significant test and early production aircraft are preserved in museums. The first Lockheed YF-22 prototype is displayed at the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio. An early F-22 engineering and manufacturing development airframe, known as Raptor 01, is on display at the Air Force Flight Test Center Museum at Edwards Air Force Base in California. Another F-22 is part of the Heritage Flight at Langley Air Force Base. The Virginia Air and Space Center in Hampton, Virginia also has an F-22 on static display.

Category:Military aircraft 1990–1999 Category:Stealth aircraft Category:United States fighter aircraft 1990–1999