F-22 Raptor
Bernie Deyo Photography has added a photo to the pool:
F-22 Raptor with fuel tanks based at Nellis does a burner takeoff.
Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor
"F-22" redirects here. For other uses, see F22 (disambiguation).
F-22 Raptor
Role Stealth air superiority fighter, multirole fighter
National origin United States
Manufacturer Lockheed Martin Aeronautics
Boeing Integrated Defense Systems
First flight YF-22: 29 September 1990[1]
F-22: 7 September 1997[1]
Introduced 15 December 2005
Status In service[2]
Primary user United States Air Force
Number built 168 as of October 2010 (187 planned)[3]
Program cost US$65 billion[4]
Unit cost US$150 million (flyaway cost for FY2009)[5]
Developed from Lockheed YF-22
Developed into X-44 MANTA
FB-22
The Lockheed Martin/Boeing F-22 Raptor is a single-seat, twin-engine fifth-generation supermaneuverable fighter aircraft that uses stealth technology. It was designed primarily as an air superiority fighter, but has additional capabilities that include ground attack, electronic warfare, and signals intelligence[6] roles. Lockheed Martin Aeronautics is the prime contractor and is responsible for the majority of the airframe, weapon systems and final assembly of the F-22. Program partner Boeing Defense, Space & Security provides the wings, aft fuselage, avionics integration, and all of the pilot and maintenance training systems.
The aircraft was variously designated F-22 and F/A-22 during the years prior to formally entering USAF service in December 2005 as the F-22A. Despite a protracted and costly development period, the United States Air Force considers the F-22 a critical component for the future of US tactical air power, and claims that the aircraft is unmatched by any known or projected fighter,[2] while Lockheed Martin claims that the Raptor's combination of stealth, speed, agility, precision and situational awareness, combined with air-to-air and air-to-ground combat capabilities, makes it the best overall fighter in the world today.[7] Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, Chief of the Australian Defence Force, said in 2004 that the "F-22 will be the most outstanding fighter plane ever built."[8]
The high cost of the aircraft, a lack of clear air-to-air combat missions because of delays in the Russian and Chinese fifth generation fighter programs, a US ban on Raptor exports, and the ongoing development of the supposedly cheaper, and more versatile F-35 resulted in calls to end F-22 production.[N 1] In April 2009 the US Department of Defense proposed to cease placing new orders, subject to Congressional approval, for a final procurement tally of 187 Raptors.[10] The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 was signed into law in October 2009 without funding for further F-22 production.[11]
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