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F-22 Raptor Related News »

• Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor Reaches Milestone In Maturity
• Holloman Airmen Train 'drive-through' Refueling on F-22 Raptor
• F-22 Raptor completes first trans-Atlantic deployment
• F-22s deploy to Guam
• Russia needs bombers in Cuba due to NATO expansion - ex-commander

Two prototypes of both the YF-22 and YF-23 were constructed, one demonstrator of each aircraft being powered by Pratt & Whitney F119 and the other by the General Electric F120 turbofan engine, allowing the Air Force to select the best airframe/propulsion arrangement.
The second YF-22 prototype, fitted with the Pratt & Whitney engines, demonstrated the ability to cruise at Mach 1.58 without afterburner and Mach 1.7 with afterburner.
This combination was deemed the most desirable and both Lockheed and Pratt & Whitney were issued contracts to proceed with production. The first F-22 fighter aircraft was unveiled in April 1997 and was given the name Raptor.

The end of the Cold War greatly reduced the perceived military threat faced by the United States, therefore the House Appropriations Committee recommended termination of the F-22, based in part on concerns over cost growth and unrealistic budgeting.
The Air Force told the Committee that development of the then called ATF would cost around $14 billion, already 900 million dollars more than estimates provided half a year earlier.
In the years that followed the costs continued to rise, and was estimated at $23 billion in 1999.

Dispite the cost overruns and cuts in the total number of aircraft that will be purchased, the F-22A Raptor achieved Initial Operational Capability, and passed its 'mission capable' flight test in mid-January 2006.

In late-February Gen. Ronald Keys, commander of Air Combat Command (ACC), revised plans to procure a fleet of 183 Raptors, and will give the service about 126 combat-ready jets.

The Raptor's twin Pratt & Whitney F119-PW-100 engines are leading-edge powerplants. The F-119's ability to provide supersonic cruise without afterburner provides the F/A-22 with one of its most important capabilities, with supercruise at Mach 1.5+ demonstrated in flight tests. It has a high power-to-weight ratio (PWR) of 1.4:1, and can deliver 156 kN (15,900 kgp / 35,000 lbf) afterburning thrust. The F119 has a minimized parts count and has been designed for maintainability. Important components, harnesses, and plumbing were placed on the bottom of the engine to improve ground crew access, and all components can be removed or replaced with one of six standard tools. The digital engine control modules are redundant, with two controllers per engine and two computers per controller, to improve reliability.

The F/A-22 is constructed of titanium alloys (39% by weight); composites (24%); aircraft aluminum alloy (16%); and thermoplastics (1%). Advanced titanium welding techniques and composite fabrication are used in the aircraft's construction. "Radar absorbent material (RAM)" is used in critical locations to reduce the aircraft's radar signature, and the aircraft's contours are intended to make it less conspicuous to radar. Apertures, such as weapons bay and landing gear doors, have zigzag edges to break up radar returns. A overall coating reduces the aircraft's infrared signature as well. While older stealth aircraft require substantial maintenance, careful handling, and protection from weather to keep them stealthy, the F/A-22 will not require extraordinary efforts to maintain its stealth characteristics.

Recent developments:

Oct. 2nd, 2008 | Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor Reaches Milestone In Maturity

MARIETTA, Georgia, September 30th, 2008 -- The Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] F-22 Raptor surpassed more than 50,000 total flight hours in August while establishing new standards in capability and maturity. "The F-22 continues to demonstrate the field performance vital to an operational weapon system,” said Larry Lawson, Lockheed Martin executive vice president and F-22 general manager. “The fleet reliability measures are ahead of plan and the force-on-force exercises have shown ...
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Aug. 9th, 2008 | Holloman Airmen Train 'drive-through' Refueling on F-22 Raptor

HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. (ACCNS) -- Now that the arrival ceremonies are over and the anticipation has subsided with the F-22A Raptor, Holloman Air Force Base Airmen are on an aggressive training schedule to prepare them for combat operations. As part of that training, members of the 49th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron and 49th Logistics Readiness Squadron's fuels management flight recently performed hot refuel or hot pit training on an F-22 here. The training is an ongoing initiative...
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Jul. 28th, 2008 | F-22 Raptor completes first trans-Atlantic deployment

LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. -- Air Combat Command's F-22 Raptor Demonstration Team successfully completed the first ever trans-Atlantic deployment for the F-22 Raptor July 15. Three F-22 Raptors, piloted by Capt. Chris Bergtholdt, 1st Operations Support Squadron, Capt. Leo Lemelson and Capt. Michael Trujillo, 27th Fighter Squadron, returned to Langley from Royal Air Force Fairford, England, to complete the deployment. A KC-10 Extender from the 70th Air Refueling Squadron of Travis Air Fo...
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Jul. 25th, 2008 | F-22s deploy to Guam

ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam (AFPN) -- Approximately 130 Airmen and five F-22 Raptors from Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, are deployed to Guam for two weeks to fulfill security requirements in the Asia Pacific region. During the deployment, the Airmen will participate in exercises Jungle Shield and Cope Thaw. Exercise Jungle Shield enhances the 13th Air Force's air defense mission in Guam and ensures the ability to fulfill Operation Noble Eagle responsibilities. F-22 pilots will also ...
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Jul. 21st, 2008 | Russia needs bombers in Cuba due to NATO expansion - ex-commander

MOSCOW, July 21 (RIA Novosti) - The possible deployment of Russian strategic bombers in Cuba may be an effective response to the placement of NATO bases near Russia's borders, a former Air Force commander said on Monday. Russian daily Izvestia earlier on Monday cited a senior Russian military source as saying that Russian strategic bombers could be stationed again in Cuba, only 90 miles from the U.S. coast, in response to the U.S. missile shield in Europe. "If these plans are being consi...
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F-22 Raptor Related News »

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• Raptors set to deploy to Guam
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• 192nd first Air Guard unit to fly F-22 for Operation Noble Eagle
• Air Force announces Reserve F-22 squadron at Holloman
• JEFX 08 demonstrates F-22 Raptor sensor capabilities
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• Northrop Receives Contracts Totaling $252M for the F-22 Raptor Program
• Australia to push US on supply of Raptor fighter
• Alaska's first F-22 total force deployment successful
• Lockheed Awarded $182M for F-22 Sustainment for 2008-2009
• Northrop Successfully Demonstrates New SAR Capability for F-22 Raptor
• Pentagon eyes F-35 fighters, not pricier F-22s
• F-22 Raptor crew chiefs begin training
• Tyndall squadron prepares for 'pipeline' Raptor pilots
• Elmendorf takes step toward IOC
• Reserve Airmen train Guardsmen on Raptor
• Museum unveils F-22 public display
• Defense Department plans to request more F-22s
• 4 new pilots begin F-22 training

All F-22 Raptor News Articles »

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