What Is the F-22 Raptor? America’s 5th-Gen Air-Superiority Fighter
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F-22 Raptor: the U.S. Air Force’s 5th-generation air-superiority fighter. (Representative image)
The F-22 Raptor, developed by Lockheed Martin with Boeing as a partner, was the world’s first 5th-generation fighter to enter serial production. Combining low radar signature (stealth), supercruise, thrust-vectoring supermaneuverability and advanced sensor fusion in a single airframe, the Raptor was built above all for air superiority. This file covers the F-22’s specifications, production story, export ban and where it stands against the F-35, Su-57 and J-20.
Contents: Overview · Specifications · Stealth & supercruise · Weapons · Production & export ban · Comparison · FAQ
Overview: why the Raptor matters
The F-22 emerged from the late-Cold-War ATF (Advanced Tactical Fighter) program as a platform meant to defeat Soviet air defenses and fighters. The YF-22 demonstrator flew in 1990; the production type flew in 1997 and entered U.S. Air Force service in 2005.
Its design philosophy is one sentence: see first, shoot first, stay unseen. A low radar cross-section shortens enemy detection range, while sensor fusion gives the pilot a single, unified picture of the air battle.
Specifications
Attribute
Value
Manufacturer
Lockheed Martin / Boeing
Type
Single-seat, twin-engine air-superiority fighter
Engines
2× Pratt & Whitney F119-PW-100 (thrust-vectoring)
Max speed
~Mach 2.25 (high altitude)
Supercruise
Above Mach 1.8 (without afterburner)
Ceiling
~65,000 ft (19,800 m)
Armament
Internal bays: AIM-120 AMRAAM, AIM-9 Sidewinder, 20 mm cannon
Number built
195 (8 test + 187 operational)
Stealth and supercruise: the two differentiators
The F-22 is the first operational fighter able to cruise supersonically for extended periods without afterburner (supercruise), giving it both range and an energy advantage against enemy missiles.
Two-dimensional thrust-vectoring nozzles grant exceptional nose-pointing authority even at low speed (supermaneuverability). Stealth comes not only from shaping but from radar-absorbent materials and internal weapon carriage.
Weapons
To preserve its signature, the Raptor carries weapons in internal bays. A typical air-to-air load is six AIM-120 AMRAAM and two AIM-9 Sidewinder. Small-diameter bombs give it a limited air-to-ground capability.
Production and the export ban
The F-22 was never exported. The 1998 Obey Amendment legally barred foreign sales of the Raptor, so the aircraft serves only with the U.S. Air Force.
Production ended far earlier than planned, in 2011, at 195 aircraft, due to budget pressures. This small fleet size is the main reason sustaining and upgrading the type is costly today.
F-22 vs F-35, Su-57 and J-20
The F-22 was designed for pure air superiority; the F-35 as a multirole (air-to-ground-heavy) platform. The two are complementary, not rivals. Russia’s Su-57 and China’s J-20 are the closest heavy-fighter counterparts to the Raptor.
Aircraft
Country
Seats
Engines
Max speed
Primary AAM
F-22 Raptor
USA
One
2× F119-PW-100 (TVC)
~Mach 2.25
AIM-120, AIM-9
F-35A
USA
One
1× F135
~Mach 1.6
AIM-120, AIM-9X
Su-57
Russia
One
2× AL-41F1 / Izdeliye 30
~Mach 2.0
R-77M, R-37M
J-20
China
One
2× WS-10C / WS-15
~Mach 2.0
PL-15, PL-10
Note: the comparison uses open-source data; real combat performance depends on doctrine, sensor networking and training.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many F-22s were built?
A total of 195 aircraft (8 test, 187 operational). Production ended in 2011.
Why is the F-22 not exported?
The 1998 Obey Amendment legally bars foreign sales. The Raptor serves only with the U.S. Air Force.
Is the F-22 better than the F-35?
They were built for different jobs: the F-22 excels at air superiority, the F-35 at multirole and networked warfare. It depends on the mission.
What does an F-22 cost?
Sources put the per-aircraft flyaway cost at roughly $150 million; the program unit cost including R&D is higher. Package and program costs should be read separately.
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