F-22 RAPTOR The F-22 Raptor advanced tactical fighter aircraft is being developed for service with the US Air Force from the year 2005. The USAF requirement is for a fighter to replace the F-15, with emphasis on agility, stealth and range. By 1990 Lockheed Martin, teamed with Boeing and General Dynamics, had built and flown the demonstration prototype aircraft, designated YF-22. The first F-22 fighter aircraft was unveiled in April 1997 and was given the name Raptor. A low rate initial production of 6 aircraft was planned to commence in November 1999. However, in July 1999, the US House of Representatives voted to delay production until December 2000. The decision to proceed to LRIP has since been delayed further, pending a review by the new administration. The USAF will now receive 6 test aircraft in 2002. Production of 48 aircraft per year was expected with a total requirement of 339 aircraft. During flight tests, the F-22 has demonstrated the ability to 'supercruise', flying at sustained speeds of over Mach 1.5 without the use of afterburner. Assembly of the first operational F-22 began in March 2001. DESIGN The F-22 construction is 39% titanium, 24% composite, 16% aluminium and 1% thermoplastic by weight. Titanium is used for its high strength to weight ratio in critical stress areas including some of the bulkheads and also for its heat resistant qualities in the hot sections of the aircraft. Carbon fibre composites have been used for the fuselage frame, the doors, intermediate spars on the wings, and for the honeycomb sandwich construction skin panels. COCKPIT The cockpit is fitted with HOTAS Hands On Throttle And Stick Control. The cockpit has six colour liquid crystal displays. The primary multifunction display provides a plan view of the air and ground tactical situation including threat identity, threat priority and tracking information. Two displays provide communication, navigation, identification and flight information. Three secondary displays show air and ground threats, stores management and air threat information. A BAE SYSTEMS Head Up Display (HUD) shows target status, weapon status, weapon envelopes and shoot cues. A video camera records data on the HUD for post mission analysis. WEAPONS A variant of the M61A2 Vulcan cannon is installed internally above the right air intake. The General Dynamics Linkless Ammunition Handling System holds 480 rounds of 20 mm ammunition and feeds the gun at a rate of 100 rounds per second. The F-22 has four hardpoints on the wings, each rated to carry 2,270 kg, which can carry AIM-120A AMRAAM or external fuel tanks. The main underfuselage weapon bay has the capacity to carry AMRAAM AIM-120A or AIM-120C missiles, and the Joint Direct Attack Munition, JDAM. Raytheon AMRAAM air-to-air missile is an all-weather short to medium range fire and forget missile, with range of 50 nautical miles. The side bays can be loaded with Lockheed Martin/Raytheon AIM-9M Sidewinder all-aspect short range air-to-air missiles. RADAR The AN/APG-77 radar has been developed for the F-22 by the Electronic Sensors and Systems Division of Northrop Grumman and Raytheon Electronic Systems. The radar uses an active electronically scanned antenna array of 2000 transmitter/receive modules which provides agility, low radar cross section and wide bandwidth. COUNTERMEASURES The aircraft's electronic warfare system includes a radar warning receiver and a Lockheed Martin Sanders missile launch detector. NAVIGATION AND COMMUNICATIONS The TRW CNI communications, navigation and identification system includes an intra-flight datalink, JTIDS Joint Tactical Information Distribution System link, and an Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) system. Boeing is responsible for mission software and avionics integration. The aircraft has a Litton LTN-100G laser gyroscope inertial reference, a global positioning system and a microwave landing system. ENGINE The F-22 is powered by two Pratt and Whitney F119-100 engines. The F119-100 is a low bypass after burning turbofan engine providing 156 kN thrust. The F119 is the first fighter aircraft engine equipped with hollow wide chord fan blades which are installed in the first fan stage. Thrust vectoring is controlled by a Hamilton Standard dual redundant full authority digital engine control (FADEC). The FADEC is integrated with the flight control computers in the BAE SYSTEMS Astronics vehicle management system.

F-22 Info