Aircraft Profile: Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor

The F-22 Raptor is the world’s first fifth generation fighter, developed for the US Air Force by Lockheed Martin. It is widely regarded as the world’s most effective air superiority fighter.

The USAF's advanced tactical fighter programme was launched in 1981 to replace the capability of the McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) F-15 Eagle. In July 1986, a request for proposal was issued and two contractor teams: Lockheed/Boeing/General Dynamics and Northrop/McDonnell Douglas, were selected to undertake a 50-month demonstration/validation process. This culminated in the flight test of two prototypes, the YF-22 and YF-23. In April 1991, the USAF ended the competition by announcing that the YF-22 was the winner.

Powered by dual afterburning Pratt & Whitney F119-100 turbofans, the F-22 has an estimated top speed of over Mach 2.0, and a supercruise capability of around Mach 1.82.

Although several recent Western fighter aircraft are less detectable on radar than previous designs using techniques such as radar absorbent material-coated S-shaped intake ducts that shield the compressor fan from reflecting radar waves, the F-22 design placed a much higher degree of importance on low observability throughout the entire spectrum of sensors, including radar signature, visual, infrared, acoustic, and radio frequency.

Stealth

The stealth of the F-22 is due to a combination of factors, including the overall shape of the aircraft, the use of radar absorbent material, and attention to detail such as hinges and pilot helmets that could provide a radar return. Reduced radar cross section is only one of facets that designers addressed to create a stealth design in the F-22. The Raptor has also been designed to disguise its infrared emissions to make it harder to detect by homing ("heat seeking") missiles. Designers also made the aircraft less visible to the naked eye, and controlled radio and noise emissions.

The F-22 can release a Boeing JDAM-guidance kit-equipped bomb from its internal weapons bays while flying at supersonic speeds. It also carries air-to-air missiles internally, both to avoid disrupting its stealth capability – vital in the face of surface-to-air missile threats – and to reduce drag, resulting in higher top speeds and longer combat ranges. Launching missiles requires opening of the weapons bay doors for less than a second, while the missiles are pushed clear of the airframe by hydraulic arms.

USAF operations of the Raptor started in 2005.