F/B-22 Fighter Bomber Discussion

Early concepts for the FB-22 envisioned a stretched aircraft with a clipped delta wing, but the stretch would substantially increase cost and make meeting the 2015 deadline difficult. The current concept envisions much the same fuselage of the F/A-22 mated to a new wing with about three times the area. The wing would be "wet", providing fuel storage that would triple the FB-22's unrefueled range compared to the F/A-22, though this is still short of what the Air Force wants.

The main weapons bays would be fitted with bulged doors to permit carriage of more or larger munitions, and the the FB-22 could carry two to four stealthy underwing pods, raising the total load of SDBs from 8 to 35. It would also be able to carry a 2,270 kilogram (5,000 pound) heavy bunker-busting bomb. It could carry two AMRAAMs for self-defense, while the cannon would be deleted. Total warload would be 6,800 kilograms (15,000 pounds) when stealth is a mission requirement; twice that when stealth isn't needed.

The FB-22 would feature the latest generation of F/A-22 avionics, though built-in targeting systems would be added, possibly leveraged from the F-35; enhanced, modernized stealth characteristics; and improved F119 engines with more power and better fuel economy, though without thrust-vectoring nozzles. The FB-22 would be capable of supersonic performance, but not supersonic cruise. The Air Force would like a two-seat configuration, which has already been designed for the cancelled F-22B; the second seat would involve fitting a 1.5 meter (5 foot) forward fuselage plug. Lockheed Martin is considering whether the tailfins can be deleted on the FB-22, reducing cost and improving stealth at some expense in flight-control software.

The Air Force is still tinkering with various concepts for their "interim solution" strike platform, but Lockheed Martin says they can move quickly if given the go-ahead, fitting the new wing to an existing F/A-22 prototype for evaluation. Production would have to be initiated in 2011 for an in-service date of 2015.