Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor
The Lockheed Martin/Boeing F-22 Raptor is a single-seat, twin-engine fifth-generation supermaneuverable 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 Defense, Space & Security provides the wings, aft fuselage, avionics integration, and training systems.
The aircraft was variously designated F-22 and F/A-22 during the years prior to formally entering USAF service in December 2002 as the F-22A. Despite a protracted and costly development period, the United States Air Force considers the F-22 a critical component of U.S. tactical air power, and claims that the aircraft is unmatched by any known or projected fighter. 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. Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, former Chief of the Australian Defence Force, said in 2004 that the "F-22 will be the most outstanding fighter plane ever built."
Variants[edit | edit source]
- YF-22: Pre-production technology demonstrator for ATF program demonstration/validation phase; two were built.
- F-22A: Single seat production variant.
- F-22B: Two-seat training variant.
- FB-22: Proposed medium range bomber for the USAF projected to carry up to 30 Small Diameter Bombs to about twice the range of the F-22A, while maintaining the F-22's stealth and supersonic speed. It was cancelled in 2006.
Operators[edit | edit source]
- 1st Fighter Wing
- 27th Fighter Squadron “Fighting Eagles”
- 94th Fighter Squadron “Hat in the Ring”
- 3rd Wing
- 90th Fighter Squadron “Dicemen”
- 525th Fighter Squadron “Bulldogs”
- 15th Wing
- 19th Fighter Squadron “Gamecocks”
- 18th Wing
- 44th Fighter Squadron “Vampires”
- 67th Fighter Squadron “Fighting Cocks”
- 44th Fighter Group
- 301st Fighter Squadron “Kats”
- 48th Fighter Wing
- 493rd Fighter Squadron “The Grim Reapers”
- 49th Operations Group
- 7th Fighter Squadron "Bunyips"
- 53rd Wing
- 31st Test and Evaluation Squadron
- 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron
- 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron
- 57th Wing
- 433rd Weapons Squadron
- 104th Fighter Wing
- 131st Fighter Squadron “Death Vipers”
- 120th Fighter Wing
- 186th Fighter Squadron “Charlie Chickens”
- 125th Fighter Wing
- 159th Fighter Squadron “Boxin' Gators”
- 142nd Fighter Wing
- 123rd Fighter Squadron “Redhawks”
- 144th Fighter Wing
- 194th Fighter Squadron “Griffins”
- 154th Wing
- 199th Fighter Squadron
- 173rd Fighter Wing
- 114th Fighter Squadron “Land of No Slack”
- 325th Fighter Wing
- 43rd Fighter Squadron “American Hornets”
- 95th Fighter Squadron “Mr. Bones”
- 412th Test Wing
- 411th Flight Test Squadron
- 477th Fighter Group
- 302nd Fighter Squadron “Red Devils”
Specifications[edit | edit source]
- Crew: 1
- Length: 62 feet 1 inch (18.923 meters)
- Wingspan: 44 feet 6 inches (13.564 meters)
- Height: 16 feet 8 inches (5.08 meters)
- Wing Area: 840 ft² (78.04 m²)
- Airfoil: NACA 64A?05.92 root, NACA 64A?04.29 tip
- Empty Weight: 43,430 lbs (19699.5 kg)
- Loaded Weight: 64,460 lbs (29,238.6 kg)
- Maximum Takeoff Weight: 83,500 lbs (37,875 kg)
- Powerplant: 2 x Pratt & Whitney F119-PW100 pitch thrust vectoring turbofans
- Dry Thrust: 23,504 lbf (104 kN)
- Thrust w/Afterburners: 35,256 lbf (156 kN)
- Fuel Capacity: 18,000 lbs (8,164.66 kg) internal; 26,000 lb (11,793.4 kg) with two external tanks.
- Maximum Speed: Mach 2.25 (1,500 mph; 1,414 km/hr)
- Supercruise: Mach 1.82 (1,220 mph; 1,963.4 km/hr)
- Armament
- Guns: 1 x 20 mm (0.787 in) M61A2 Vulcan 6-barreled gatling cannon in starboard wing root, 480 rounds
- Air-to-Air Missiles: AIM-9X Sidewinder, AIM-120C/D AMRAAM, AIM-152 AAAM
