The Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor is a fifth-generation, single-seat, twin-engine, all-weather stealth tactical fighter developed for the United States Air Force (USAF) under the Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF) program. Although primarily designed for air superiority missions, the aircraft is also capable of precision strike, electronic warfare (EW), intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), and signals intelligence support.
Developed by Lockheed Martin in partnership with Boeing, the F-22 became the world's first operational fifth-generation fighter aircraft. It combines very low observable (stealth) characteristics, sustained supercruise, thrust-vectoring maneuverability, advanced avionics, sensor fusion, and network-centric warfare capabilities into a single platform.
Lockheed Martin was responsible for the forward fuselage, weapons systems, and final assembly, while Boeing manufactured the wings, aft fuselage, avionics integration, and pilot training systems. Although production ended in 2011, the F-22 remains the USAF's premier air dominance fighter and continues to receive modernization upgrades that are expected to keep it operational until the arrival of the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) family of aircraft.
Basic Information
- Role: Air Superiority / Multirole Stealth Fighter
- National Origin: United States
- Manufacturers: Lockheed Martin Aeronautics and Boeing Defense, Space & Security
- Program: Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF)
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First Flight:
- YF-22 Prototype — 29 September 1990
- F-22A Production Aircraft — 7 September 1997
- Introduction: December 2005 (Initial Operational Capability)
- Status: Active Service
- Primary Operator: United States Air Force (USAF)
- Production Period: 1996–2011
- Final Delivery: May 2012
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Total Aircraft Built:
195
- 8 Development and Test Aircraft
- 187 Operational Aircraft
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Derived Concepts:
- X-44 MANTA
- FB-22 Strike Fighter
Specifications (F-22A)
- Crew: 1
- Length: 18.92 m (62 ft 1 in)
- Wingspan: 13.56 m (44 ft 6 in)
- Height: 5.08 m (16 ft 8 in)
- Empty Weight: 19,700 kg (43,340 lb)
- Maximum Takeoff Weight: 38,000 kg (83,500 lb)
- Internal Fuel Capacity: Approximately 8,200 kg (18,000 lb)
- Maximum Fuel with External Tanks: Approximately 11,800 kg (26,000 lb)
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Powerplant:
2 × Pratt & Whitney F119-PW-100 afterburning turbofan engines
- Dry Thrust: Approximately 26,000 lbf (116 kN) each
- Thrust with Afterburner: Approximately 35,000 lbf (156 kN) each
Performance
- Maximum Speed: Over Mach 2 at altitude (exact performance remains classified)
- Supercruise: Sustained supersonic flight without afterburner, typically Mach 1.5–1.8 depending on mission configuration
- Combat Radius: Approximately 740 km (460 mi)
- Ferry Range: Approximately 2,960 km (1,840 mi) with external fuel tanks
- Service Ceiling: Above 65,000 ft (20,000 m)
- Rate of Climb: More than 62,000 ft/min (315 m/s)
- Thrust-to-Weight Ratio: Approximately 1.25 under combat configuration
Armament
Internal Gun
- 1 × 20 mm M61A2 Vulcan rotary cannon
- 480 rounds of ammunition
Air-to-Air Weapons
- 6 × AIM-120 AMRAAM beyond-visual-range air-to-air missiles
- 2 × AIM-9 Sidewinder short-range infrared-guided missiles
Air-to-Ground Weapons
- 2 × GBU-32 JDAM (1,000 lb precision-guided bombs)
- 8 × GBU-39 Small Diameter Bombs (SDB)
External Hardpoints
- Four external pylons for fuel tanks or additional weapons when stealth is not required.
Avionics and Sensors
- AN/APG-77 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) Radar
- AN/ALR-94 Passive Radar Warning and Electronic Support System
- AN/AAR-56 Missile Launch Detection System
- Integrated Communications, Navigation and Identification (CNI) Suite
- Advanced Sensor Fusion
- Secure Data Link
- Electronic Countermeasures (ECM)
- Chaff and Flare Dispensers
Operational History
The F-22 Raptor achieved Initial Operational Capability (IOC) in December 2005, becoming the world's first operational fifth-generation fighter aircraft.
Its first combat deployment took place in September 2014 during Operation Inherent Resolve, where F-22s conducted precision strikes against ISIS targets in Syria while simultaneously providing air superiority, escort missions, and intelligence support for coalition forces.
Since then, the aircraft has regularly deployed to Europe, the Indo-Pacific, Alaska, and the Middle East as part of NATO reassurance missions, strategic deterrence operations, and freedom of navigation deployments.
Due to U.S. federal export restrictions, the F-22 has never been exported and remains exclusively operated by the United States Air Force (USAF).
Modernization (2026)
Although production ended in 2011, the F-22 continues to receive extensive modernization upgrades designed to maintain its technological superiority until the arrival of the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) family of aircraft.
- Open Mission Systems (OMS) architecture
- Improved electronic warfare capabilities
- Enhanced cockpit processors
- Advanced infrared defensive systems
- Network-centric communications upgrades
- Compatibility with the AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile (JATM)
- Improved sensor fusion and mission software
Comparison with Other Fifth-Generation Fighters
| Attribute | F-22 Raptor | J-20 Mighty Dragon | Su-57 Felon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Country | United States | China | Russia |
| First Flight | 1997 | 2011 | 2010 |
| Service Entry | 2005 | 2017 | 2020 |
| Estimated Fleet (2026) | ~180 | 300+ | ~40–45 |
| Engines | 2 × F119-PW-100 | WS-10C / WS-15 | AL-41F1 |
| Maximum Speed | Mach 2+ | Mach 2 | Mach 2 |
| Supercruise | Operationally Proven | Improving (WS-15) | Claimed |
| Combat Radius | ~740 km | ~1,930 km | ~1,100 km |
| Primary Role | Air Superiority | Long-range Air Dominance | Multirole Fighter |
| Export Status | Not Exported | Not Exported | Limited Export Potential |
Strengths
- Exceptional low-observable stealth characteristics
- Combat-proven supercruise capability
- Outstanding agility with thrust-vectoring engines
- Highly advanced sensor fusion
- Excellent beyond-visual-range air combat capability
- Mature and combat-tested avionics
- Superior pilot situational awareness
Limitations
- Relatively small operational fleet
- Production permanently ended in 2011
- Very high operating and maintenance costs
- Limited strike payload compared with dedicated multirole fighters
- No export customers
- Requires continuous modernization to counter emerging threats
Legacy
The United States Air Force originally planned to procure 750 Advanced Tactical Fighters during the Cold War. However, the collapse of the Soviet Union, changing defense priorities, rising program costs, export restrictions, and the growing emphasis on the more affordable and versatile F-35 Lightning II resulted in significant reductions to the program.
Ultimately, only 195 aircraft were produced, including 187 operational fighters. Despite its relatively small fleet, the F-22 is widely regarded as one of the most capable air-superiority fighters ever built and continues to serve as the backbone of U.S. air dominance while bridging the gap toward the future NGAD program.
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