F22 Fighter Jet Aircraft

The Lockheed Martin F-22 fighter aircraft is the US Air Force's Fifth Generation all-weather stealth fighter air platform to provide air superiority. Born from the need of the US Department of Defense to replace the aging F15 Eagle and F16 Fighting Falcon (Viper) fleets, a competition between airframe designers culminated in the F-22 Raptor. As of 2023, 187 aircraft have entered service with the US Air Force. The F22 Technology remains closely protected by the USA and therefore there are no other operators. The 5th Generation F-22’s unique combination of stealth, speed, agility, and situational awareness, combined with lethal long-range air-to-air and air-to-ground weaponry, makes it a formidable air dominance fighter in the world.

As of 2023, the F22 Raptor has been identified for obsolescence in 2030 due to its extremely high operating costs, intensive maintenance requirements and obsolescence of its abilities. Average availability of the F22 for combat duties was 63% due to on-going maintenance and supply-chain issues which is considered a failing platform.

The F-22 is a stealthy, penetrating, air dominance, and multirole attack fighter built for day, night, and adverse weather, full-spectrum operations. The world’s most advanced fighter, it combines stealth, supercruise, and high maneuverability. Its integrated avionics and digital data links enable simultaneous multitarget engagement.

Advanced flight controls and thrust-vectoring, high-performance engines enable high maneuverability. Features include six LCD color cockpit displays, APG-77 AESA radar, EW system with RWR and missile launch detection, JTIDS, IFF, and INS/GPS navigation.

A combination of sensor capability, integrated avionics, situational awareness, and weapons provides first-kill opportunity against threats. The F-22 possesses a sophisticated sensor suite allowing the pilot to track, identify, shoot and kill air-to-air threats before being detected. Significant advances in cockpit design and sensor fusion improve the pilot's situational awareness. In the air-to-air configuration the Raptor carries six AIM-120 AMRAAMs and two AIM-9 Sidewinders.

The F22 has a significant capability to attack surface targets. In the air-to-ground configuration the aircraft can carry two 1,000-pound GBU-32 Joint Direct Attack Munitions internally and can use on-board avionics for navigation and weapons delivery support. In the future air-to-ground capability will be enhanced with the addition of an upgraded radar and up to eight small diameter bombs. The Raptor will also carry two AIM-120s and two AIM-9s in the air-to-ground configuration.

The F-22 engines produce more thrust than any current fighter engine. The combination of sleek aerodynamic design and increased thrust allows the F-22 to cruise at supersonic airspeeds (greater than 1.5 Mach) without using afterburner -- a characteristic known as supercruise. Supercruise greatly expands the F22's operating envelope in both speed and range over current fighters, which must use fuel-consuming afterburner to operate at supersonic speeds.

Advances in low-observable technologies provide significantly improved survivability and lethality against air-to-air and surface-to-air threats. The F-22 brought stealth into the day, enabling it to not only protect itself but other assets.

The sophisticated F-22 aerodesign, advanced flight controls, thrust vectoring, and high thrust-to-weight ratio provide the capability to outmaneuver all current and projected aircraft. The F-22 design was extensively tested and refined aerodynamically during the development process.

F16 Weapon Systems Designator Codes (WSDC)

• PGF - F-22 Raptor Air Dominance Fighter
• PHF - F119-Pw-100 (F-22 Raptor) Engine