The F-22 Raptor is a sophisticated aircraft designed for air superiority. It is a single-seat and twin-engine aircraft, which combines sensor capabilities with integrated Avionics. Lockheed Martin's F-22 was designed to combat new types of stealth and supersonic planes.
It was developed as a result of the USAF's Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF) program. The F-22 Raptor aircraft is the Air Force’s 21st century fighter. It is an all-weather, super maneuverable aircraft. It has a high-speed Mach2.2 cruise and four AIM-120A AMRAAM anti-missile missiles. It has ground attack capability.
The F-22 Raptor is constructed from 34,000 lbs of titanium and aluminiu and is operated and maintained by the Air Force. It is a supersonic stealth tactical fighter and single-seat aircraft. It can reach speeds of Mach 2.2 and has a combat radius around 800 nautical miles. Currently, the Raptor serves mainly as a training aircraft. However, it is expected to be replaced in about 40 years.
The Raptor has had many problems. It first had problems with its radar. It was also difficult to spot the aircraft's coating of paint. The third issue was that the airframe had to be redesigned in order to support the ISRT system. This required extensive overhauls. While these are practical production-line issues, they don't affect the soundness of the design.
The Air Force has however been working to upgrade the F-22. The current platform is a bridge to the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) platform. The NGAD is expected include an advanced piloted stealth aircraft and unmanned combat aerial vehicles. NGAD uses advanced sensors, weapons and technology. NGAD will include a larger internal weapons carriage, and a faster speed.
According to Andrew Hunter, the chief of acquisition for the Air Force, the NGAD is a very important project. He suggests that 33 Block 20 F-22A Raptors in the F-22A Block should be retired.
The Raptor has been in flight test for several months at Edwards Air Force Base in California. The second model will join the test program in August.
The F-22 Raptor is an excellent fighter jet but there are some limitations. One of the major ones is the cost. Due to funding and testing difficulties, production has been delayed. The post-Cold War world has criticized it as unnecessary. These problems can be solved with the help of modern solutions.
The Raptor's fuel consumption also poses a problem. The Raptor uses approximately 10 gallons fuel per minute. This is very costly. This means that the Raptor can't refuel from an aircraft carrier.
The Raptor's maintenance cost is also a concern. The upkeep costs are estimated to be about $600,000 per aircraft, which is a significant price tag. But, the government continues to look for low-cost options for high-quality aircraft.
These problems aside, the Raptor remains a highly capable aircraft. The Collier Trophy 2006 has been presented to the Raptor. If it continues to perform, it could be the world's fastest supersonic fighter.