The Lockheed Martin F-22A Raptor
The F-22 Raptor is considered the first fifth-generation fighter in the inventory of the United States Air Force, using low-observation technologies, modern avionics and efficient engines. The F-22 Raptor, a critical component of the Force of Global Strike Task, is designed to project the airborne domain quickly and at great distances and defeat threats that try to deny access to the Air Force, the Army, the Navy and the US Marine Corps.
Extremely Powerful F-22 Raptor Shows Its Crazy Ability
A combination of sensor capability, integrated avionics, situational awareness and weapons provides an early death opportunity against threats. The F-22 Raptor has a sophisticated set of sensors that allows 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 AMRAAM AIM-120 and two Sidewinder AIM-9.
The characteristics of the F-22 provide a synergistic effect ensuring the lethality of the F-22A with most advanced air threats. The combination of stealth, integrated avionics and supercruise drastically reduces the ground-to-air missile interaction envelope and minimizes enemy capabilities to track and activate the F-22. The combination of reduced observability and supercruise accentuates the advantage of surprise in a tactical environment.
The Advanced Tactical Fighter entered the Demonstration and Validation phase in 1986. The aircraft prototype (YF-22 and YF-23) completed its first flights in the late 1990s.
Finally, the YF-22 was selected as the best of the two and the engineering and manufacturing development effort began in 1991 with development contracts for Lockheed / Boeing (fuselage) and Pratt & Whitney (engines). EMD included extensive testing of systems and subsystems, as well as flight tests with nine aircraft at the Edwards Air Force Base, California. The first EMD flight was in 1997 and at the end of the flight test, this aircraft was used for real fire tests.
The program received approval to enter the initial low-rate production in 2001. The initial operational and test evaluation of the Air Force Operational Testing and Evaluation Center was completed successfully in 2004. Depending on the maturity of the design and other factors , the program received 2005 approval.
The AN / APG-77 is a low-probability, intercept radar of interception installed on the F-22 Raptor fighter. The radar is built by Northrop Grumman.
Contractor:
Lockheed-Martin Service : USAF
Armament : M61A2 cannon; 2x AIM-9; 6x AIM-120; 2x GBU-32; 2x AIM-120
Power station : two Pratt & Whitney F119-PW-100 turboprop engines with afterburner and two-dimensional vector thrust nozzles.
Speed : Mach 2
Range : 1,600 nm
