The F-22 Raptor's Milestone Missile Launch by Alberto Rossi America's fastest, smartest and most lethal fighter jet, the stealthy F-22 Raptor, has fired a missile for the first time. This successful test, which took place as the F-22 flew at 20,000 feet and a speed of Mach. 07, places the FÓ22 one step closer to full production. The $84 million fighter jet represents the next generation of air dominance -- replacing the U.S. Air Force's aging fleet of F-15 Eagles. But, that price tag raises some questions as to whether it's worth the investment. The Air Force says we need it to shorten wars and save lives. If the Pentagon agrees, it could put into motion billions of dollars for jobs and jets, one of the first major investments in the aerospace industry in years. That's only if the F-22 continues to pass a battery of Pentagon mandated tests. This latest test successfully places the fighter right on target -- a milestone in proving the Raptor's military utility. F-22 Capabilities This jet will have the ability to launch lethal weapons such as the advanced medium-range radar-guided AIM-120C air-to-air missile (AMRAAM) and drop 1,0000 pound, satellite-guided Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM) air-to-ground weapons. The standard weapons loadout for the F-22 will be two Sidewinders in the side-weapons bays and six AMRAAMs in the main-weapons bay, or two Sidewinders in the side bays, and two AMRAAMs and two JDAMs in the main bay. To date the F-22 has flown approximately 650 hours and completed some 5,000 test points. It is designed to replace the F-15 Eagle and will posses combat capabilities not equaled by any other fighter in the world. Edwards is home to three F-22s now being tested. A fourth F-22 is scheduled for delivery in mid-August.
F-22 Raptor Air Force Mission The F-22 is a multi-role air-superiority fighter with improved capability over current Air Force aircraft. From the inception of the battle, the F-22’s primary objective will be to establish air superiority through the conduct of counter-air operations. The F-22 also has significant air-to-surface capability. Air Force Features First look/first shot/first kill in all environments. A combination of improved sensor capability, integrated avionics, improved situational awareness, and improved weapons provides first-kill opportunity against the threat. The F-22 possesses a sophisticated sensor suite that allows the pilot to track, identify and shoot the threat before it detects the F-22. Significant advances in cockpit design and avionics fusion improve the pilot’s situational awareness. Advanced avionics technologies allow the F-22 sensors to gather, integrate and display essential information in the most useful format to the pilot. Stealth. Advances in low-observable technologies provide significantly improved survivability and lethality against air-to-air and surface-to-air threats. The F-22’s combination of reduced observability and supercruise accentuates the advantage of surprise in a tactical environment. Supercruise. The F-22 engines produce more thrust than any current fighter engine. This allows the F-22 to efficiently cruise at supersonic airspeeds without using afterburner, a characteristic known as supercruise. Supercruise greatly expands the F-22’s operating envelope in both speed and range over current fighters, which must use afterburner to operate at supersonic speeds. Increased maneuverability. The sophisticated F-22 aerodesign, advanced flight controls with thrust vectoring and high thrust-to-weight ratio provide the capability to outmaneuver all current and projected threat aircraft. The F-22 design has been extensively tested and refined aerodynamically during the demonstration/validation process. Improved combat radius on internal fuel. The F-22 uses low-drag internal weapons carriage and operates at high altitudes to provide air superiority deep into enemy territory at ranges superior to current-generation air-superiority aircraft. Improved reliability and maintainability. To ensure operational flexibility, the F-22 has better reliability and maintainability than any military fighter in history. An F-22 squadron will require less than half as much airlift as an F-15 squadron to deploy. Increased F-22 reliability and maintainability pays off in less manpower required to fix the aircraft and the ability to operate more efficiently. Increased lethality and survivability. The F-22's characteristics provide a synergistic effect that ensures F-22 lethality against an advanced air threat. The combination of stealth, integrated avionics and supercruise drastically shrinks surface-to-air engagement envelopes and minimizes enemy capabilities to engage and shoot at the F-22. Air-to-surface capability. The F-22 has a secondary role to attack surface targets. The aircraft will be capable of carrying two 1,000-pound Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAMs) internally and will use on-board avionics for navigation and weapons delivery support. Air Force Background The F-22 is an air-superiority fighter that incorporates the latest technological gains in reduced observables, avionics, engine performance and aerodynamic design. Knowledge gained from proven weapon systems such as the F-15, F-16 and F-117 formed the foundation for F-22 development. General Characteristics Primary Function: Fighter, air-superiority. Builder: Lockheed, Boeing. Power Plant: Two Pratt & Whitney F119-PW-100 turbofan engines with afterburners and two-dimensional thrust vectoring nozzles. Thrust (each engine): 35,000-pound class. Length: 62 feet, 1 inch (18.9 meters). Height: 16 feet, 5 inches (5.0 meters). Wingspan: 44 feet, 6 inches (13.6 meters). Speed: Mach 2 class (approximately 1,500 miles per hour or 2,400 kilometers per hour at sea level). Ceiling: Above 50,000 feet (approximately 15 kilometers). Empty Weight: 40,000-pound class (approximately 18,000 kilograms). Range: More than 2,000 miles (approximately 3,200 kilometers). Armament: One M61A2 20-millimeter multibarrel cannon; internal stations can carry AIM-9 infrared (heat seeking) air-to-air missiles and AIM-120 radar-guided air-to-air missiles or 1,000-pound Joint Direct Attack Munitions; external stations can carry additional stores. Crew: F-22A: one. F-22B: two. Initial Operational Capability (IOC): 2003. Projected Inventory: Active: More than 300. Point of Contact Air Combat Command, Public Affairs Office, 115 Thompson St., Suite 211; Langley AFB VA 23665-1987; DSN 574-5007 or (804) 764-5007; e-mail: acc.paz@langley.af.mil.
How recent is this info? I thought the F-22 would have already been in service. I first heard about it years ago. And if this is what the government is just now telling us, think about what they already might have. Ever hear of the A-12 Aura? Top speed around Mach 6, ceiling over 120,000ft. There's a lot of stuff out there no one is supposed to know about.
A contract to start building the F-22 was just awarded to lockheed last august and only about a dozen are scheduled right now. They also were selected to build the F-35 joint strike fighter as well last year. The F-22 was propsed forever ago just never put into full production. There are about 8 flying right now:grenade:
According to the Above post artical ther are 3 at edwards air force base and as with all things in goverment it goes VERY VERY slow Plus the Aura has been around longer than the F22, and F35
that's correct, as well there are 2 at Langley, 2 and Tyndall, 2 permanently with lockheed for more testing and evaulation and 10 under production as of last year
the JSF is kind of strange, i got confused awhile back about what they were doin i thougth they scrapped the F22 a few years ago, as it was well known like 4 years ago but all this JSF with lokeed and boing fighting it out, i thought they decided not to do F22, but evidently they are doing both
