Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor
From Scramble - The Aviation Magazine
| Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor | ||
|---|---|---|
| ||
| Description | ||
| Role | Air Defence Fighter/Bomber | |
| Crew | 1 | |
| First Flight | September 7, 1997 (F-22A) | |
| Entered Service | December 15, 2005 | |
| Number built | 183 planned | |
| Manufacturer | Lockheed Martin | |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 18.90 m | 62 ft 1 in |
| Wingspan | 13.56 m | 44 ft 6 in |
| Height | 5,08 m | 16 ft 8 in |
| Wing area | 78.04 m² | 840 ft² |
| Weights | ||
| Empty | 14,379 kg | 31,700 lb |
| Loaded | 25,107 kg | 55,352 lb |
| Maximum takeoff weight | 36,288 kg | 88,000 lb |
| Capacity | ||
| Powerplant | ||
| Engines | two Pratt & Whitney F119-GE-100 | |
| Thrust | 156 kN+ (each) | 35,000 lbf+ (each) |
| Performance | ||
| Maximum speed | Mach 2+, supercruise: Mach 1.72 | |
| Combat radius | 780 km | 410 miles |
| Service ceiling | 19,812 m | 65,000 ft |
| Rate of climb | m/min | ft/min |
| Avionics | ||
| Avionics | Northrop Grumman AN/APG-77 | |
| Armament | ||
| Armament | One General Dynamics (General Electric) M61A2 Vulcan 20 mm gun with 480 rounds, 6x AIM-120C Amraam, 2x AIM-9X Sidewinder, 2x GBU-32 JDAMs in internal weapon bays | |
Contents |
History
The Lockheed Martin/Boeing F-22 Raptor is an American 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. The United States Air Force considers the F-22 a critical component of the U.S. strike force. It's supersonic cruise capability at 50,000 ft class altitudes, puts the F-22 outside the envelope of most SAM systems and present air defence fighters.
In 1981 the United States Air Force developed a requirement for a new air superiority fighter, the Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF), to replace the capability of the F-15 Eagle. ATF was a demonstration and validation program undertaken by the USAF to develop a next-generation air superiority fighter to counter emerging worldwide threats, including development and proliferation of Soviet-era Su-27 Flanker-class fighter aircraft. It was envisaged that the ATF would incorporate emerging technologies including advanced alloys and composite materials, advanced fly-by-wire flight control systems, higher power propulsion systems, and low-observable/stealth technology. A request for proposal (RFP) was issued in July 1986, and two contractor teams, Lockheed/Boeing/General Dynamics and Northrop/McDonnell Douglas were selected in October 1986 to undertake a 50-month demonstration/validation phase, culminating in the flight test of two prototypes, the YF-22 and the YF-23. On 23 April 1991 the US Air Force ended the design and test-flight competition by announcing Lockheed's YF-22 as the winner. It was anticipated at the time that 650 aircraft would be ordered. The first production F-22 was delivered to Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, on 14 January 2003 and "Dedicated Initial Operational Test and Evaluation" commenced on 27 October 2004. By 2004, 51 Raptors were in service. In August 2007, the US Air Force signed a $5 billion, multi-year contract with Lockheed Martin that will extend production to 2011, and as of 2008, F-22 Raptors are being procured at the rate of 20 per year. In a ceremony on 29 August 2007, Lockheed Martin reached its "100th F-22 Raptor" milestone, delivering aircraft 05-4100.
Operational Flight Program
Increment 3.1
The first of three planned Operational Flight Program software upgrades. Increment 3.1 will give the Raptor air-to-ground capability, using the GBU-39/B Small Diameter Bomb. The Raptor can carry eight GBU-39/Bs, fpir per weapons bay mounted on BRU-61 racks. Planned to be released at speeds up to Mach 1,5, the GBU-39/B can strike targets at very long stand-off ranges. A new Synthetic Aperture Radar mode will provide high resolution imagery of the target and allow the pilot to designate the target, transfer that information to the GBU-39/B and release the weapon.
Increment 3.2
Increment 3.2 will introduce the AIM-9X Sidewinder and AIM-120D AMRAAM.
Versions
F-22A
Production model, powered by Pratt & Whitney F119-PW-100 turbofan engines. The F-22's avionics include BAE Systems E&IS radar warning receiver (RWR) AN/ALR-94 (450 km detection range) and the Northrop Grumman AN/APG-77 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar (250 km detection range for fighter targets). The AN/APG-77 has both long-range target acquisition and low probability of interception of its own signals by enemy aircraft. In the F-22A Block 20 standard, the aircraft can also carry bombs compatible with the 1,000 lbs GBU-32 JDAM, and the new GBU-39/-40 Small-Diameter Bomb (SDB). Other Block 20 upgrades include high resolution synthetic aperture radar mapping modes, better radar ECCM, two-way voice and data multi-functional information distribution system (MIDS/Link 16) capability. The F-22A Block 30, planned for 2008-2011, introduces side-looking radar arrays to provide a initial Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance (ISR) capability as well as air-defence suppression (Wild Weasel) capability. Also, a satellite communication terminal will be added to provide network connectivity during deep strike missions. The F-22A Block 40 standard (post 2011) will include full ISR capabilities and Helmet Mounted Sight Display similar to that of the F-35 Lightning II. Post Block 40 upgrades could include an electronic attack variant.
F-22B
Proposed two-seat version. Cancelled.
FB-22A
Company designation for strike aircraft derative, planned for service around 2020. The FB-22A would have a enlarged wing and weapon bay and a stretched fuselage to accommodate a second crew member.
Operators
Images
 F-22A |
 F-22A |
 F-22A weapons bay |
More information
External links
Sources
Air International February 2006
