F-22 Raptor 5th-generation fighter in the U.S

The F-22 Raptor is considered the first 5th-generation fighter in the U.S. Air Force inventory, using low observable technologies, modern avionics and efficient engines to offer an air superiority fighter unmatched by any other modern military. The aircraft was variously designated F-22 and F/A-22 before it formally entered service in December 2005 as the F-22A. After a protracted development and despite operational issues, the USAF considered the F-22 critical to its tactical air power. When the aircraft was introduced, the USAF stated that it was unmatched by any known or projected fighter. The F-22's combination of stealth, aerodynamic performance, and situational awareness gives the aircraft unprecedented air combat capabilities. The F-22 Raptor, a critical component of the Global Strike Task Force, is designed to project air dominance, rapidly and at great distances and defeat threats attempting to deny access to our nation's Air Force, Army, Navy and Marine Corps. The F-22 cannot be matched by any known or projected fighter aircraft.

The high cost of the aircraft, a lack of clear air-to-air missions due to delays in Russian and Chinese fighter programs, a ban on exports, and development of the more versatile F-35 led to the end of F-22 production.  A final procurement tally of 187 operational production aircraft was established in 2009, and the last F-22 was delivered to the USAF in 2012. A combination of sensor capability, integrated avionics, situational awareness, and weapons provides first-kill opportunity against threats. The F-22 Raptor 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 F-22 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 will 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.

Types	parameter
Role	Stealth air superiority fighter
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	Lockheed Martin Aeronautics
Boeing Defense	Space & Security
First flight	7 September 1997
Introduction	15 December 2005
Status	In service
Primary user	United States Air Force
Unit cost	US$150 million
Developed from	Lockheed YF-22

Origins

In 1981, the U.S. Air Force identified a requirement for an Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF) to replace the F-15 Eagle and F-16 Fighting Falcon. Code named "Senior Sky", this air superiority fighter program was influenced by the emerging worldwide threats, including development and proliferation of Soviet Su-27 "Flanker"- and MiG-29 "Fulcrum"-class fighter aircraft. It would take advantage of the new technologies in fighter design on the horizon, including composite materials, lightweight alloys, advanced flight control systems, more powerful propulsion systems, and stealth technology. The request for proposals (RFP) was issued in September 1985. Of the seven bidding companies, Lockheed and Northrop were selected on 31 October 1986. Lockheed teamed with Boeing and General Dynamics while Northrop teamed with McDonnell Douglas, and the two teams undertook a 50-month demonstration/validation phase, culminating in the flight test of two technology demonstrator prototypes, the YF-22 and the YF-23 respectively. The program was managed by the Advanced Tactical Fighter Systems Program Office (ATF SPO) located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.

Cockpit

The F-22 has a glass cockpit with all-digital flight instruments. The monochrome head-up display offers a wide field of view and serves as a primary flight instrument; information is also displayed upon six color liquid-crystal display (LCD) panels. The primary flight controls are a force-sensitive side-stick controller and a pair of throttles. The USAF initially wanted to implement direct voice input (DVI) controls, but this was judged to be too technically risky and was abandoned. The canopy's dimensions are approximately 140 inches long, 45 inches wide, and 27 inches tall (355 cm × 115 cm × 69 cm) and weighs 360 pounds. The canopy was redesigned after the original design lasted an average of 331 hours instead of the required 800 hours. The F-22 has integrated radio functionality, the signal processing systems are virtualized rather than as a separate hardware module. There have been several reports on the F-22's inability to communicate with other aircraft, with voice communication possible but not data transfer.

 

The integrated control panel (ICP) is a keypad system for entering communications, navigation, and autopilot data. Two (7.6 cm × 10.2 cm) up-front displays located around the ICP are used to display integrated caution advisory/warning data, Communications/Navigation/Identification (CNI) data and also serve as the stand-by flight instrumentation group and fuel quantity indicator. The stand-by flight group displays an artificial horizon, for basic instrument meteorological conditions. The 8 in × 8 in (20 cm × 20 cm) primary multi-function display (PMFD) is located under the ICP and is used for navigation and situation assessment. Three (15.9 cm × 15.9 cm) secondary multi-function displays are located around the PMFD for tactical information and stores management. he Raptors flew in the second of three waves of coalition strikes. (Dozens of cruise missiles were the first wave.) The radar-evading, fifth generation fighters divided their time between escorting other aircraft and dropping 1,000-pound guided bombs on ISIS outposts.

Raptor design

The F-22 construction is 39% titanium, 24% composite, 16% aluminium and 1% thermoplastic by weight. Titanium is used for its high strength-to-weight ratio in critical stress areas, including some of the bulkheads, and also for its heat-resistant qualities in the hot sections of the aircraft. Carbon-fibre composites have been used for the fuselage frame, the doors, intermediate spars on the wings, and for the honeycomb sandwich construction skin panels.

Weapons

A variant of the M61A2 Vulcan cannon is installed internally above the right air intake. The General Dynamics linkless ammunition handling system holds 480 rounds of 20mm ammunition and feeds the gun at a rate of 100 rounds a second. The F-22 has four hardpoints on the wings, each rated to carry 2,270kg, which can carry AIM-120A AMRAAM or external fuel tanks. The Raptor has three internal weapon bays. The main weapons bay can carry six AMRAAM AIM-120C missiles or two AMRAAM and two 1,000lb GBU-32 joint direct attack munition (JDAM).

The bay is fitted with the EDO Corp. LAU-142/A AVEL AMRAAM vertical ejection launcher which is a pneumatic-ejection system controlled by the stores management system. Raytheon AMRAAM air-to-air missile is an all-weather short- to medium-range radar-guided fire-and-forget missile, with a range of 50nm. The side bays can each be loaded with one Lockheed Martin / Raytheon AIM-9M or AIM-9X Sidewinder all-aspect short-range air-to-air missile. The GPS-guided, Boeing small diameter bomb (SDB) was integrated on the F/A-22 in February 2007. Eight SDBs can be carried with two AMRAAM missiles.

Radar

The AN/APG-77 radar has been developed for the F-22 by the Electronic Sensors and Systems Division of Northrop Grumman and Raytheon Electronic Systems. The radar uses an active electronically scanned antenna array of 2,000 transmitter / receive modules, which provides agility, low radar cross-section and wide bandwidth. Deliveries of the AN/APG-77 began in May 2005.

Engine

The F-22 is powered by two Pratt and Whitney F119-100 engines. The F119-100 is a low bypass after-burning turbofan engine providing 156kN thrust. The F119 is the first fighter aircraft engine equipped with hollow wide chord fan blades which are installed in the first fan stage. Thrust vectoring is controlled by a Hamilton Standard dual redundant full authority digital engine control (FADEC). The FADEC is integrated with the flight control computers in the BAE Systems flight controls vehicle management system.

Specifications

1. Crew: 1
2. Length: 62 ft 1
3. Wingspan: 44 ft 6 in
4. Height: 16 ft 8 in
5. Wing area: 840 ft²
6. Airfoil: NACA 64A?05.92 root, NACA 64A?04.29 tip
7. Empty weight: 43,340 lb
8. Loaded weight: 64,840 lb
9. Max. takeoff weight: 83,500 lb
10. Fuel capacity: 18,000 lb (8,200 kg) internally, or 26,000 lb (12,000 kg) with two external fuel tanks
11. Powerplant: 2 × Pratt & Whitney F119-PW-100 turbofans with thrust vectoring in pitch-axis
12. Dry thrust: 26,000 lb each
13. Thrust with afterburner: >35,000 lb (>156 kN)each

• Performance

1. Maximum speed -
2. At altitude: Mach 2.25 (2,410 km/h) [estimated]
3. Supercruise: Mach 1.82 (1,960 km/h)
4. Range: >1,600 nmi (2,960 km) with 2 external fuel tanks
5. Combat radius: 460 nmi (with 100 nmi in supercruise) clean( 852 km)
6. Ferry range: 3,220 km
7. Service ceiling: 20,000 m
8. Wing loading: 377 kg/m²
9. Thrust/weight: 1.08 (1.25 with loaded weight and 50% internal fuel)
10. Maximum design g-load: +9.0/−3.0 g

• Armament

1. Guns: 1× 20 mm (0.787 in) M61A2 Vulcan 6-barrel rotary cannon in right wing root, 480 rounds
2. Air-to-air mission loadout:
3. 6× AIM-120 AMRAAM
4. 2× AIM-9 Sidewinder

• Air-to-ground mission loadout

1. 2× 1,000 lb (450 kg) JDAM or 8× 250 lb (110 kg) GBU-39 Small Diameter Bombs
2. 2× AIM-120 AMRAAM
3. 2× AIM-9 Sidewinder
4. Hardpoints: 4× under-wing pylon stations can be fitted to carry 600 U.S. gallon (2,270 L) drop tanks or weapons, each with a capacity of 5,000 lb (2,270 kg).[243] However, if mounted, external hardpoints will compromise the stealth of the fighter.

• Avionics

1. AN/APG-77 or AN/APG-77(V)1 radar: 125–150 miles (201–241 km) against 1 m2 (11 sq ft) targets (estimated range), 250 miles (400 km) in narrow beams
2. AN/AAR-56 Missile Launch Detector (MLD)
3. AN/ALR-94 radar warning receiver (RWR): 250 nautical miles (460 km) or more detection range
4. MJU-39/40 flares for protection against IR missiles