The Lockheed Martin/Boeing F-22 Raptor is a fifth-generation fighter aircraft that uses stealth technology. It is primarily an air superiority fighter, but has multiple 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 F-22 won the Air Force's Advanced Tactical Fighter contest over the Northrop YF-23 in April 1991. While the aircraft's primary mission remains air superiority, for which it can carry up to 8 air-to-air missiles internally, a secondary ground-attack role has also been developed. This capability was highlighted when the Raptor was briefly renamed the F/A-22 in late 2002, though it has been redesignated as the F-22 since December 2005. The F-22 was designed primarily to supplement and replace the F-15 by incorporating the latest in stealth features and propulsion technology. These advances include its angular design, use of radar-absorbant composite materials, and the ability to "supercruise" at supersonic speeds without using an afterburner. The F-22 also emphasizes agility through the use of thrust vectoring nozzles and a sophisticated fly-by-wire control system.
F-22 RAPTOR ARMAMENT:
Gun: one 20-mm M61A2 Vulcan cannon (480 rds)
Stations: four internal weapons bays and four external hardpoints
Air-to-Air Missile: AIM-9M Sidewinder, AIM-120A/C AMRAAM, AIM-9X Sidewinder planned
Air-to-Surface Missile: none
Bomb: GBU-32 JDAM, GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb planned
F-22 Photo Gallery
The F-22 won the Air Force's Advanced Tactical Fighter contest over the Northrop YF-23 in April 1991. While the aircraft's primary mission remains air superiority, for which it can carry up to 8 air-to-air missiles internally, a secondary ground-attack role has also been developed. This capability was highlighted when the Raptor was briefly renamed the F/A-22 in late 2002, though it has been redesignated as the F-22 since December 2005. The F-22 was designed primarily to supplement and replace the F-15 by incorporating the latest in stealth features and propulsion technology. These advances include its angular design, use of radar-absorbant composite materials, and the ability to "supercruise" at supersonic speeds without using an afterburner. The F-22 also emphasizes agility through the use of thrust vectoring nozzles and a sophisticated fly-by-wire control system.
F-22 RAPTOR ARMAMENT:
Gun: one 20-mm M61A2 Vulcan cannon (480 rds)
Stations: four internal weapons bays and four external hardpoints
Air-to-Air Missile: AIM-9M Sidewinder, AIM-120A/C AMRAAM, AIM-9X Sidewinder planned
Air-to-Surface Missile: none
Bomb: GBU-32 JDAM, GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb planned
F-22 Photo Gallery
 |
| F-22 Raptor |
 |
| F-22 Raptor |
 |
| F-22 Raptor |
 |
| F-22 Raptor |
 |
| F-22 Raptor |
 |
| F-22 Raptor |
F-22 Raptor Contractors
 |
| F-22 Raptor |
