The F-22 Raptor is widely regarded as the most formidable fighter jet ever built. As the first fifth-generation stealth aircraft, it combines unparalleled speed, agility, and firepower.
-Powered by two Pratt & Whitney F119 engines, the Raptor can reach supersonic speeds for sustained periods, while its advanced radar systems and stealth capabilities allow it to dominate air-to-air and air-to-ground combat.
-Initially, the Air Force planned to acquire 750 Raptors, but only 200 were built due to shifting priorities post-Cold War. With the introduction of the F-35 and the upcoming Next Generation Air Dominance program, the future of the F-22 remains uncertain.
Why the F-22 Raptor Remains America’s Unrivaled Air Dominance Fighter
The F-22 Raptor is the most expensive per-unit fighter jet ever built, but the formidable airframe is well worth its hefty price tag.
As the first fifth-generation platform to enter service with any military, the American-made F-22 will always be a legend. Many fifth-generation platforms have since taken to the skies, including the American-made F-35 Lightning II, China’s Chengdu J-20 and the Russian Su-57, but the F-22 still flies at the head of the class. From a tiny cross-radar section and enhanced thrust-to-weight ratio, to greater fire power and faster speed, the Raptor’s characteristics leave it without parallel.
The Raptor’s Origin Story
American engineers began researching replacement platforms for the F-15 Eagle and F-16 Fighting Falcon in the early 1980s, and the Advanced Tactical Fighter program was conceptualized. At the time, the Soviets were flying increasingly capable jets. Specifically, the Sukhoi Su-27 and Mikoyan MiG-29 were considered quite formidable.
Multiple manufacturers joined the competition to build this next-generation fighter and its components. Lockheed Martin and Pratt & Whitney emerged as clear winners; their YF-22 prototype featured thrust vectoring nozzles and several other sophisticated attributes.
Specs & Capabilities for F-22
The F-22 was the first platform to combine stealth, supermaneuverability, and super cruise in one airframe when it was introduced more than a quarter-century ago. Perhaps the Raptor’s most significant feature is its small radar cross-section. The F-22 is far less observable than the F-35.
A pair of Pratt & Whitney F119-PW-100 turbofan engines power the Raptor, producing a total thrust of approximately 70,000 pounds. With its thrust-vectoring capabilities, the F-22 is able to outperform competitors in a dogfight. The Raptor was designed to penetrate deep into enemy airspace, and it can fly at supersonic speeds for sustained periods of time.
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