Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor

Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor

The Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor is a fifth-generation, single-seat, twin-engine, all-weather stealth tactical fighter aircraft developed for the United States Air Force (USAF). The result of the Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF) program, it was designed primarily as an air superiority fighter, but also has ground attack, electronic warfare, and signals intelligence capabilities. The Lockheed and Boeing team, with engines from Pratt & Whitney, produced an aircraft that entered USAF service in 2005 and remains a cornerstone of American airpower.

Development

The genesis of the program was the Advanced Tactical Fighter initiative launched by the United States Department of Defense in the 1980s to counter advanced Soviet aircraft like the Sukhoi Su-27 and emerging surface-to-air missile threats. In 1991, the Lockheed/Boeing/General Dynamics YF-22 prototype was selected over the Northrop/McDonnell Douglas YF-23 after a intense demonstration and evaluation process. The engineering and manufacturing development phase was led by Lockheed Martin in Marietta, Georgia, following the merger of Lockheed Corporation and Martin Marietta. The aircraft, named "Raptor" in 1997, faced significant budgetary scrutiny after the Cold War and the September 11 attacks shifted defense priorities, leading to a severe reduction in its planned procurement.

Design

The airframe extensively uses advanced materials like titanium alloys and composite materials to achieve high strength, low weight, and radar-absorbent qualities. Its stealth technology design includes weapon bays, s-shaped engine inlets, and edge alignment to minimize its detectability to systems like those fielded by the Russian Aerospace Forces. The aircraft is powered by two Pratt & Whitney F119 turbofan engines fitted with thrust vectoring pitch nozzles, enabling supercruise and exceptional maneuverability. The integrated avionics suite includes the AN/APG-77 active electronically scanned array radar and systems for electronic warfare and communications intelligence.

Operational history

The first operational squadron, the 1st Fighter Wing's 27th Fighter Squadron, achieved Initial Operational Capability at Langley Air Force Base in 2005. The F-22 saw its first combat deployment in 2014, conducting airstrikes against ISIL targets in Syria as part of Operation Inherent Resolve. Its primary operational bases include Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Hawaii, and Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida. The aircraft has been routinely deployed to forward locations like Kadena Air Base in Japan and Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, and has participated in major exercises such as Red Flag and Northern Edge.

Variants

The F-22A is the sole production model for the United States Air Force. The FB-22 was a proposed bomber variant studied in the early 2000s but was never developed. The Navalized F-22 concept, potentially for the United States Navy, was also briefly explored but not pursued. An export version was never offered due to stringent congressional restrictions stemming from the Obama Administration's enforcement of the Obama-era ITAR laws, which prohibited the transfer of its sensitive technologies to even close allies like Japan and Australia.

Operators

The United States Air Force is the sole operator of the aircraft. Primary units include the 1st Fighter Wing, 3rd Wing, 15th Wing, 325th Fighter Wing, and the 53rd Wing for testing. The Air Combat Command and Pacific Air Forces are the major combatant commands that oversee its operational deployment. The Air Force Reserve Command and the Air National Guard do not operate the F-22, with its fleet being exclusively active-duty.

Specifications (F-22A)

* **Crew:** 1 * **Length:** 62 ft 1 in (18.92 m) * **Wingspan:** 44 ft 6 in (13.56 m) * **Height:** 16 ft 8 in (5.08 m) * **Empty weight:** 43,340 lb (19,700 kg) * **Max takeoff weight:** 83,500 lb (38,000 kg) * **Powerplant:** 2 × Pratt & Whitney F119-PW-100 turbofans with thrust vectoring, 35,000 lbf (156 kN) thrust each * **Maximum speed:** Mach 2.25 (1,500 mph, 2,410 km/h) at altitude * **Cruise speed:** Mach 1.82 (1,220 mph, 1,963 km/h) supercruise * **Range:** 1,600 nmi (1,840 mi, 2,960 km) with 2 external fuel tanks * **Combat radius:** 410 nmi (470 mi, 760 km) * **Service ceiling:** 65,000 ft (20,000 m) * **Armament:** 1 × 20 mm M61A2 cannon; internal bays for AIM-120 AMRAAM and AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles; provisions for JDAM and SDB for ground attack

Category:United States fighter aircraft