Fighter Aircraft (F-22 Raptor)

A fighter aircraft is a military aircraft designed primarily for air to air combat against other aircrafts. It is also used for bombarding purposes on pre-specified targets. Fighter aircrafts changed the history of war. Any country with most advanced fighter not only rules the sky but also dominates the war going on land by carrying out air strikes. The hallmarks of a fighter are its speed, maneuverability and small size relative to other aircrafts. Many fighter aircrafts have secondary ground attack capabilities, and some are designed as dual purpose fighter bombers.

Since world war-I, the fighter aircrafts have maintained its air superiority over a battleground.

                                           

F-22 Raptor:

F-22 Raptor was one of the most advanced and deadliest aircrafts when it came in service in early 2000s.  The F-22 Raptor is considered as the first 5^th generation fighter in the US air inventory, using low observable techniques, modern avionics, and efficient engine to offer an air superiority fighter unmatched by any other military aircrafts. It is basically single seat, twin engine and all weather stealth tactical fighter aircraft designed for United States Air Force.

It has a glass cockpit with all digital flight instruments. The monochrome head-up display offers a wide range of view and serves as a primary flight instrument. The raptor has three weapons bays; a large main weapon bay under the fuselage, and other two on the sides of fuselage.

The F-22 Raptor, a critical component of the Global Strike Task Force, is designed to project air dominance and it cannot be matched by any known or projected fighter aircrafts. The F-22 has a significant capability to attack the ground targets.  It possesses a sophisticated sensor suite allowing the pilot to track, identify, shoot and kill the air to air threats before being detected. Advances in low observable technologies provides significantly improved survivability and lethality against air to air and surface to air threats.

The thrust produced by F-22 engines are comparatively more than any current fighter aircraft engine. The combination of sleek aerodynamic design and increased thrust allows the F-22 to cruise at supersonic airspeeds (greater than mach 1.5) without using afterburner. This characteristics is known as Supercruise, which greatly expands the F-22’s operating envelope in both speed and range over current fighters, which must fuel-consuming afterburner to operate at supersonic speeds.

The Raptor has received relatively few upgrades compared to legacy 4^th generation F-15 and F-16 fighter aircraft and now is significantly outdated in many ways. The F-22 raptor lacks many capabilities relative to 4^th generation.

Below, there are some specifications and performance analysis of F-22 raptor;

Specifications:

·        Crew: 1

·        Length: 62ft 1in (18.92 m)

·        Wingspan: 44 ft 6 in (13.56 m)

·        Height: 16 ft 8 in (5.08 m)

·        Wing area: 840 ft² (78.04 m²)

·        Empty weight: 43,340 lb (19,700 Kg)

·        Loaded weight: 64,840 lb (29,410 Kg)

·        Max takeoff weight: 83,500 lb (38,000 Kg)

·        Fuel Capacity: 18,000 lb (8,200 Kg)

·        Dry thrust: 26,000 lb (116 KN each)

·        Thrust with afterburner: >35,000 lb (> 156 KN each)

Performance:

·        Maximum speed: At altitude: mach 2.25 (1,500mph, 2,410 Km/h) and at Supercruise: mach 1.82 (1,220 mph, 1,960 Km/h)

·        Range: >1,600 nmi (2,960 Km)

·        Combat radius: 460 nmi

·        Ferry range: 1,740 nmi

·        Service ceiling: >65,000 ft (20,000m)

·        Wing loading: 77.2 lb/ft² (377 kg/m²)

·        Thrust/Weight: 1.08

·        Maximum design g- load: +9.0/- 3.0 g

Armament

·        Guns: 1*20 mm M61A2 Vulcan 6-barrel rotary cannon in right wing root, 480 rounds

·        Air to Air mission loadout

Ø  6* AIM-120 AMRAAM

Ø  2* AIM-9 Sidewinder

·        Air to ground mission loadout

Ø  2* 1,000 lb JDAM or 8* 250 lb GBU-39 small diameter bombs

Ø  2* AIM-120 AMRAAM

Ø  2* AIM-9 sidewinder

·        Hardpoints: 4* under-wing pylon stations can be fitted to carry 600 US gallon (2,270 L) drop tanks or weapons, each with a capacity 5,000 lb (2,270 kg). However, if mounted, external hardpoints will compromise the stealth of the fighter.