|
Entered service |
2003 |
|
Crew |
1 men |
|
Dimensions and weight |
|
Length |
18.92 m |
|
Wing span |
13.56
m |
|
Height |
5
m |
|
Weight (empty) |
14.36 t |
|
Weight (maximum take off) |
27.21 t |
|
Engines and performance |
|
Engines |
2 x Pratt & Whitney F119-P-100 turbofans |
|
Traction (dry / with afterburning) |
2 x ? / 155.69 kN |
|
Maximum speed |
> 2 500 km/h |
|
Armament |
|
Cannon |
1 x M61A2 20-mm cannon |
|
Missiles |
4 x AIM-120C AMRAAMs, 4 x AIM-9M/X Sidewinder
air-to-air missiles. GBU-32 joint directed air munition, AGM-88 HARM |
|
Bombs |
GBU-22 Paveway III laser guided bombs |
|
Developed to meet the USAF's ATF requirement for an
F-15 replacement,
the F-22 air
dominance fighter will form the core of the USAF's war-fighting
selection of the Pratt & Whitney-powered version of what is now the
Lockheed Martin/Boeing F-22 Raptor.
Between 1990 to 1997 two YF-22A
prototypes evaluated some of the technologies proposed for the
production ATF. The F-22's configuration is designed to meet VLO
criteria, key features including a trapezoidal wing whose angles are
repeated on other surfaces to reduce radar signature, canted fins
and internal weapons carriage. The core of the offensive avionics is
provided by the APG-77 multi-mode radar and a side-mounted
phased-array radar. The highly integrated avionics systems also
include a data-link, inertial navigation system with embedded GPS for high-accuracy
navigation, and advanced electronic warfare, warning and countermeasures systems.
Two central computers manage the automatic switching of the sensors
between completely passive and wholly active operation, according to
the tactical situation. Artificial intelligence algorithms fuse data
from the sensors and present only relevant information to the pilot
to reduce workload while at the same time improving tactical
awareness. The datalink allows tactical information to be shared
with other F-22s. The F119 engines high military power rating allow
the F-22 to supercruise over long ranges while thrust-vectoring
nozzles, combined with a triplex fly-by-wire flight control system, make it exceptionally
agile.
The EMD contract issued in August 1991 called for 11 (later
reduced to nine) F-22s; two were planned as F-22B two-seaters, but
this aspect of the programme was cancelled in 1996 as a cost-saving
measure. The first EMD F-22A made the type's maiden flight in 1997.
By early 2001 the four available EMD aircraft had demonstrated the
type's excellent capabilities. However, the US Congress
called into question the value of such a costly, high-profile
programme. Low-rate initial production of the F-22 was finally
approved subject to compliance with stringent objectives. Currently
USAF operates approximately 70 F-22 fighters.
|
Video of the F-22 Raptor air
superiority fighter |
|
|
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