The F-22 Raptor stands as a pinnacle of modern air superiority, embodying the culmination of advanced stealth, agility, and avionics technologies. Designed by Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, this fifth-generation fighter jet entered service with the United States Air Force in December 2005. Its sleek and aerodynamic profile, combined with radar-absorbing materials and coatings, renders it virtually undetectable by enemy radar systems. Equipped with advanced sensors and weapons systems, including an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar and thrust vectoring engines, the F-22 boasts unparalleled situational awareness and maneuverability. Its ability to cruise at supersonic speeds without afterburners, known as "supercruise," gives it a decisive edge in aerial engagements. Though limited in production due to budget constraints, the F-22 remains a symbol of American air power and a formidable asset in ensuring air dominance in contested environments.
General characteristics
- Manufacturer: Lockheed Martin Aeronautics
- Crew: 1 (pilot)
- Unit Cost: Approximately $150 million USD (205 million CAD)
- Length: 18.90 m (62.08 ft)
- Wingspan: 13.56 m (44.5 ft)
- Height: 5.08 m (16.67 ft)
- Empty Weight: 43,340 pounds (19,700 kilograms)
- Maximum Takeoff Weight: 83,500 pounds (38,000 kilograms)
- Powerplant: 2 × Pratt & Whitney F119-PW-100 Pitch Thrust Vectoring Turbofans
- Thrust: 35,000 lbf (156 kN) each engine
- Thrust/Weight: 1.08
Performance
- Maximum Speed: Mach 2.25 (2,410 km/h)
- Cruising Speed: Mach 1.82 (1,963 km/h)
- Range: 2,960 kilometers (1600 nmi) with 2 external fuel tanks
- Service Ceiling: 65,000 feet (19,812 meters)
Armament
- Guns: 1 × 20 mm (0.787 in) M61A2 Vulcan rotary cannon (480 rounds)
- Hardpoints: 4 × internal and 4 × external hardpoints with provisions to carry combinations of:
- Air-to-Air Missiles: AIM-120 AMRAAM, AIM-9 Sidewinder, AIM-132 ASRAAM, AIM-260 JATM
- Air-to-Surface Missiles: AGM-88 HARM, AGM-158 JASSM
- Bombs: JDAM, Paveway, Small Diameter Bomb (SDB)
- Others: Electronic Warfare (EW) and Reconnaissance Pods