Manufactured: Lockheed Martin / Boeing (USA).
Role: Air superiority fighter.
First Flight: September 7, 1997.
Deployment: December 15, 2005.
Propulsion: Two Pratt and Whitney F119-PW-100 turbofan thrust vectoring engines. 35,070 lbs of thrust each.
Maximum speed: 1,190 mph (Mach 1.80).
Max supercruise speed: Mach 1.5.
Service ceiling: 65,000 ft.
Flight radius: 901 miles.
Empty weight: 43,340 lbs.
Loaded weight: 64,460 lbs.
Maximum takeoff weight: 83,500 lbs.
Wingspan: 44.50 ft.
Length: 61.91 ft.
Height: 16.57 ft.
Wing area: 829.9 sq. ft.
Thrust to weight ratio: 1.08 (1.26 with 50% fuel).
For stealth purposes, the majority of the F-22s compatible weapons are stored internally. However, when a mission does not require stealth, it can carry further ordinance on 4 external hardpoints. It carries six missiles under the fuselage and one in each of two bays on the side of the aircraft, to the rear of the cockpit. It is capable of supplanting four bombs for the six missiles on strike missions. The Raptor uses an M61A2 20mm cannon with 480 rounds. The side bays are specifically designed to carry AIM-9 Sidewinders for defense against airborne threats. The F-22 is compatible with most modern air-to-air missiles and small bombs for strike missions.
The Raptor appeared on Discovery Channel’s Future Weapons in season 2, episode 3 . The original air date was January 29, 2007. The host, a former Navy SEAL, takes you behind the scenes of Raptor production and testing to see what role the F/A-22 will have above the battlefields of the future.
F/A-22 Raptor - Air Superiority Fighter. A joint Lockheed Martin / Boeing venture to produce the most advanced fighter aircraft in history. The Raptor is the first 5th Generation fighter to be developed and utilizes stealth and supercruise capabilities.
