The F/A-22 “Raptor” is a modern fighter jet developed by Boeing and its partners. Designed to replace the F-15, the F/A-22 is planned to become the U.S. Air Force's primary method of asserting “air dominance” in the 21st century. The F/A-22 is able to carry and use air-to-air missiles to defend against threats from enemy aircraft, and is also capable of delivering air-to-surface weapons to attack targets on the ground. It is the first fighter jet to incorporate advanced stealth features, making it difficult for enemies to detect. Its stealth capabilities, agility, high level of maneuverability, and mechanical reliability make it resistant to both air and land-based threats, and its onboard instrumentation is the most advanced ever incorporated into an aircraft, giving it the edge in detecting and responding to threats.

The F/A-22 has a wingspan of 44.5 feet, nose-to-tail length of 62.1 feet, and a wheel-to-flap height of 16.4 feet. Its cockpit has room for one pilot, who has access to the fighter's weapons, navigation, and instrumentation systems [1].

The F/A-22 is made of several sections, which are being developed by Boeing and its partners.

• Lockheed Martin Aeronautical Systems is responsible for the F/A-22's:
  • ailerons. These are hinged pieces on the back of the wings that control the plane's rolling.
  • flaps. These are hinged pieces on the front of the wings that help slow down the plane for landing.
  • fins and stabilizers. These pieces are fin-like projections from the rear of the plane that control its “pitch” (the angle at which the “nose” points)  and assist in turning
  • forebody. This section includes the “nose” of the fighter, which houses its radar and computing systems.
  • forward fuselage. This is the front part of the plane's body, and includes the cockpit.
  • landing gear. This part of the bottom of the plane includes wheels and shock absorbers.
• Lockheed Martin Tactical Aircraft Systems is responsible for the F/A-22's
  • center fuselage. This section is the middle part of the plane's body. It houses more computing systems. The plane's weaponry can attach to the underside of the center fuselage, or be placed inside it, depending upon the weapon configuration.
• Pratt & Whitney is providing the F/A-22 with its two jet engines, which attach to its rear, and allow it to achieve speeds approaching twice the speed of sound [3].
• Boeing is providing the F/A-22's:
  • aft-fuselage. This is the rear section of the plane's body, to which the engines attach.
  • avionics integration. The avionics are the electronic instruments used to fly the plane, and include radar, navigation, communications, and flight information systems.
  • wings. The F/A-22's wings also serve as fuel tanks. Some of the plane's weaponry attaches under the wings to the center fuselage [4].

Inside – The Cockpit

F-A/22 pilots have a very modern control system at their fingertips. The fighter's avionics, flight controls, weapons deployment, and climate controls are all integrated into a single control system. This control system is powered by two “Common Integrated Processor” (CIP) units, high-end computers that process flight, radar, environmental, and weapons data. According to Boeing, the F/A-22's “mission management, sensor control, sensor tasking, track fusion, fire control, integrated navigation, flight-path management, diagnostics management, pilot-vehicle interface and training” are all managed by the onboard CIPs [5]. Previous fighter jets, like the F-15, used separate processors, which required separate controls and displays, taking up the pilot's time and the cockpit's room. These CIP computers run the Boeing-developed “Block” operation software, which analyzes the data from the fighter's instruments, provides the user interface for the pilot, and determines the most relevant data to be displayed to the pilot.  Block displays the pilot interface and avionics on a set of LCD screens instead of on a number of dials, unlike other fighters. Block contains over 1.6 million lines of computer source code, and has undergone thousands of hours of testing both in computer labs and onboard the “Flying Test Bed,” a modified Boeing 757 plane [6].

F/A-22 pilots go through extensive training on the Block system, undergoing realistic simulations in three major areas: 1) Full Mission Training, which prepares the pilot for receiving and analyzing data from base on how to proceed, and for using the plane's avionics. 2) Weapons and Tactics Training, which prepares the pilot for using the plane's onboard gun and attached missiles, and also for performing offensive and evasive maneuvers. 3) Egress Procedure Training, which instructs the pilot on exiting the plane in emergency, including ejection procedures [7].

Pilots are not only protected by the F/A-22's weaponry; the plane's suite of features includes a specially designed life support system. According to Boeing, the system's developer, the F/A-22 flight suit and helmet protect pilots from the effects of “high altitude, acceleration, heat distress, cold-water immersion, chemical and biological (C/B) environments, fire, noise, and high-speed/high-altitude ejection” [9].

The Outside – Stealth

The outside of the F/A-22 is specifically designed with near-invisibility from enemy detection in mind. The goal of the plane's stealth features is to reduce its radar and infrared “signatures,” the picture of the aircraft reflected back to an observer. The edges of the plane's wings are serrated to scatter incoming radar, reflecting less back to its source. The fins and stabilizers on the rear are arranged in a V shape; the way they are angled also helps reflect less radar. In addition, Boeing developed a special “topcoat” paint specifically for the F/A-22's wings. This topcoat is designed to shield the F/A-22 from both radar and infrared detection. Because the paint absorbs much of an incoming signal, the F/A-22 is detected as much smaller than it actually is, throwing off enemy weapons like heat-seeking missiles, which track infrared signatures. And, unlike previous jet fighters, some of the F/A-22's weaponry is stored inside the fuselage. As a result, the weapons don't stick out from the bottom of the plane, making it less visible to radar – weaponry can be selected based on the stealth needs of a mission. Even the pilot's helmet is taken into consideration; the cockpit is specially designed to “minimize the usually substantial radar return of pilot’s helmet” [11]. All of these features help ensure that the F/A-22 sees an adversary before the adversary can see it, minimizing risk to itself, giving it the option to evade or attack.

The Outside – Weapons

A number of weapons can be carried by the F/A-22, giving it both offensive and defensive capabilities against enemies in the air. The fighter carries weapons based on the needs of the mission, but its full suite includes [12]:

• Two short-range heat-seeking missiles
• Six medium-range radar-guided missiles
• Eight 250 lb. guided “smart” bombs
• Two 1,000 lb. guided “smart” bombs

Originally, the F/A-22 was named the “F-22.” The “F” stands for “fighter,” meaning its primary purpose is air combat, encounters with other aircraft. The “A,” for “attack” was added late in the development cycle after the U.S. Military requested that the plane also be able to attack targets on the ground. This is a secondary role for the “Raptor,” (planes whose main purpose is to attack ground targets have “B” in their name, for “bomber”) but an important one. With its air-to-surface weapons, it can destroy enemy bases that might detect it, and ensure its own safety in the air [13].

The F/A-22 is designed to be able to carry both current and future weapons. The illustration at right shows how these weapons can be situated. The F/A-22's current arsenal includes:

• AIM-9  “Sidewinder” Missiles. This is a short-range (about 11 miles maximum) heat-seeking missile designed to attack air adversaries, and can be delivered accurately even during evasive flight maneuvers [14].
• AIM-120 Missiles. This is a medium-range (about 20 miles maximum) radar-guided missile designed to attack air adversaries. It receives data from the F/A-22's own radar, keeping its target in sight [15].
• M61 Vulcan Gun. This is a rapid-fire Gatling (rotating barrel) gun that fires small (20 millimeter) bullets at a rate of 100 rounds per second [16].
• JDAM “Smart” Bombs. Boeing's “Joint Direct Attack Munition” technology is an add-on that makes a regular bomb into a guided “smart” weapon, greatly increasing accuracy. The F/A-22's avionics give the JDAM system information on conditions, then the bomb's guiding tail section controls its fall, allowing for very precise strikes on ground targets [17].

The Outside – Movement

The F/A-22 is designed to be both very fast and very maneuverable. To achieve this, Boeing and its partners developed special technology to make it the most agile fighter ever designed.

One of the most impressive new features of the F/A-22 is its “supercruise” ability. This feature lets the F/A-22 fly at speeds above “Mach 1,” the speed of sound, without using afterburners [18]. Afterburners allow jets to greatly increase their speed by burning jet fuel and expelling the exhaust at high velocity. This is useful for achieving high speeds for short amounts of time, but uses a great deal of fuel, forcing planes to refuel earlier, possibly cutting missions short. The F/A-22 can fly at speeds above Mach 1.5 (1.5 times the speed of sound) without using afterburners, and at speeds approaching Mach 2 with them. With this capability, the F/A-22 can enter and exit enemy airspace quickly and efficiently, and outrun pursuers.

The aerodynamic characteristics of the F/A-22 are also notable. The fighter's shape, in addition to shielding it from radar, let it pull off tactical air maneuvers to avoid enemy attacks. For example, the F/A-22 can execute rolls and dives to throw off and evade tracking missiles. Unlike many previous fighters, the F/A-22 can store weapons inside its fuselage, greatly reducing air resistance. The plane's fuel tanks are integrated into the wings, further reducing drag. The materials used for the wings and body of the plane are designed to hold up under extreme conditions, allowing the F/A-22 to make very sharp rolls, turns, and dives.

Together, these traits make the F/A-22 much safer for pilots and much more lethal to enemies. The parts used to make the plane so agile include [18]:

• F119-PW Engines. The F/A-22 employs two engines from Pratt & Whitney. These engines are both extremely powerful and lightweight. They provide up to 35,000 pounds of thrust, and give the F/A-22 its “supercruise” ability, allowing it to fly faster than sound efficiently. These engines attach to the rear section of the plane, inside the aft-fuselage, to minimize air resistance.
• Wings. The two F/A-22 wings are very advanced parts from Boeing. These wings house the fighter's fuel tanks, reducing drag. The wings are each 16 feet by 18 feet, and weigh around 2,000 pounds, depending on fuel tank contents. They are made from 42% titanium, 35% composite metal, and 23% aluminum and steel, materials chosen for their high strength-to-weight ratio. Each wing has titanium supports to assist in extreme air maneuvers and to withstand the effects of high-speed travel [4].
• Aft-Fuselage. This is the rear section of the F/A-22's body. This section encases the plane's two engines to cut down on air resistance, and like the F/A-22's wings, is designed to withstand high speed and extreme maneuvers. According to Boeing, the aft-fuselage makes use of “titanium subassemblies called booms,” which replace fasteners and connectors used in other planes, and weigh much less [4].

Conclusion

The integration of pilot protection measures, electronic flight instrumentation, speed, mobility, low observability, and offensive and defensive armaments makes the F/A-22 Raptor the overall most advanced and safest fighter jet the U.S. Military has ever used. This integration of technology also makes the F/A-22 the most lethal to threats. For these reasons, the F/A-22 is the   Military's choice for dominating airspace for at least the next 40 years.

Sources

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2.“Division of Work.”  Boeing Integrated Defense Systems. 29 May, 2005 <http://www.boeing.com/defense-space/military/f22/f22workdiv.html>

3.“F/A-22 Features.” Boeing Integrated Defense Systems. 29 May, 2005 <http://www.boeing.com/defense-space/military/f22/f22features.html>

4.“F/A-22 Aft-Fuselage Facts.” Boeing Integrated Defense Systems. 29 May, 2005 <http://www.boeing.com/defense-space/military/f22/f22facts.html>

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12.“F/A-22 Technology – Integrated Fuel and Weapons.” Lockheed Martin. 29 May, 2005. <http://www.f22-raptor.com/technology/weapons.html>

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14.“AIM-9 Sidewinder.” Wikipedia. 29 May, 2005. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AIM-9_Sidewinder>

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