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Description
Role: Stealth air superiority fighter
National origin: United States
Manufacturer: Lockheed Martin Aeronautics , Boeing Defense, Space & Security
First flight: 7 September 1997
Introduction: 15 December 2005
Status: In service
Primary user: United States Air Force
Produced: F-22: 1996–2011
Number built: 195 (8 test and 187 operational aircraft)
Program cost: US$66.7 billion as of 2011
Unit cost: US$150 million (flyaway cost for FY2009)
Developed from: Lockheed YF-22
Developed into: Lockheed Martin X-44 MANTA , Lockheed Martin FB-22

The Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor is a fifth-generation single-seat, twin-engine , all-weather stealth tactical fighter aircraft developed for the United States Air Force (USAF). The result of the USAF's Advanced Tactical Fighter program, the aircraft was designed primarily as an air superiority fighter , but has additional capabilities including ground attack , electronic warfare , and signals intelligence roles. Lockheed Martin is the prime contractor and was responsible for the majority of the airframe, weapon systems, and final assembly of the F-22, while program partner Boeing provided the wings, aft fuselage, avionics integration, and training systems.
The aircraft was variously designated F-22 and F/A-22 prior to formally entering service in December 2005 as the F-22A. After a protracted development and despite operational issues, the USAF considers the F-22 a critical component of its tactical air power, and states that the aircraft is unmatched by any known or projected fighter. The Raptor's combination of stealth, aerodynamic performance, and situational awareness gives the aircraft unprecedented air combat capabilities.
The high cost of the aircraft, a lack of clear air-to-air missions due to delays in Russian and Chinese fighter programs, a ban on exports, and development of the more versatile and comparatively lower cost F-35 led to the end of F-22 production. A final procurement tally of 187 operational production aircraft was established in 2009 and the last F-22 was delivered to the USAF in 2012.

Variants:
YF-22A – pre-production technology demonstrator for ATF demonstration/validation phase; two were built.
F-22A – single-seat production version, was designated F/A-22A in early 2000s.
F-22B – planned two-seat variant, but was canceled in 1996 to save development costs.
Naval F-22 variant – a carrier-borne variant of the F-22 with variable-sweep wings for the U.S. Navy 's Navy Advanced Tactical Fighter (NATF) program to replace the F-14 Tomcat . Program was canceled in 1993. Former SoAF Donald Rice has called the possibility of the naval variant the deciding factor for his choice of the YF-22 over the YF-23
Derivatives:

The FB-22 was a proposed medium-range bomber for the USAF. The FB-22 was projected to carry up to 30 Small Diameter Bombs to about twice the range of the F-22A, while maintaining the F-22's stealth and supersonic speed. However, the FB-22 in its planned form appears to have been canceled with the 2006 Quadrennial Defense Review and subsequent developments, in lieu of a larger subsonic bomber with a much greater range.
The X-44 MANTA , or multi-axis, no-tail aircraft, was a planned experimental aircraft based on the F-22 with enhanced thrust vectoring controls and no aerodynamic surface backup. The aircraft was to be solely controlled by thrust vectoring, without featuring any rudders, ailerons, or elevators. Funding for this program was halted in 2000.

General characteristics
Crew: 1
Length: 62 ft 1 in (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)
Airfoil : NACA 64A?05.92 root, NACA 64A?04.29 tip
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)
Powerplant : 2 × Pratt & Whitney F119-PW-100 pitch thrust vectoring turbofans
Dry thrust: 26,000 lb (116 kN) each
Thrust with afterburner : 35,000+ lb (156+ kN) each
Fuel capacity: 18,000 lb (8,200 kg) internally, or 26,000 lb (12,000 kg) with two external fuel tanks
Performance
Maximum speed :
At altitude: Mach 2.25 (1,500 mph, 2,410 km/h) [estimated]
Supercruise : Mach 1.82 (1,220 mph, 1,960 km/h)
Range : >1,600 nmi (1,840 mi, 2,960 km) with 2 external fuel tanks
Combat radius : 410 nmi (with 100 nmi in supercruise) (470 mi, 760 km)
Ferry range : 2,000 mi (1,740 nmi , 3,220 km)
Service ceiling : >65,000 ft (20,000 m)
Wing loading : 77.2 lb/ft² (377 kg/m²)
Thrust/weight : 1.08
Maximum design g -load: −3.0/+9.0 g[110]
Armament
Guns: 1× 20 mm (0.787 in) M61A2 Vulcan 6-barrel Gatling cannon in right wing root, 480 rounds
Air to air mission loadout:
6× AIM-120 AMRAAM
2× AIM-9 Sidewinder
Air to ground mission loadout:
2× 1,000 lb (450 kg) JDAM or 8× 250 lb (110 kg) GBU-39 Small Diameter Bombs
2× AIM-120 AMRAAM
2× AIM-9 Sidewinder
Hardpoints : 4× under-wing pylon stations can be fitted to carry 600 U.S. gallon drop tanks or weapons, each with a capacity of 5,000 lb (2,270 kg).
Avionics
AN/APG-77 radar : 125–150 miles (200–240 km) against 1 m2 (11 sq ft) targets (estimated range)
AN/AAR-56 Missile Launch Detector (MLD)
AN/ALR-94 radar warning receiver (RWR): 250 nmi (463 km) or more detection range
MJU-39/40 flares for protection against IR missiles

Caption for this photo as I found it on Facebook:

THE US GOV DOES NOT WANT YOU TO SEE THIS IMAGE!

We have seen captions like this before on the "inter web", but in this case, it's absolutely correct. Three years ago, The USAF officially released a very pretty picture of this Raptor in flight over Nevada during Red Flag.

It was soon discovered shortly after release, that this image captured something else. As clear as day, and sitting right in the middle of the image, just happens to be Area 51, aka; Dreamland, The Lake, Paradise Ranch, Groom Lake, The Box, The Ranch, Neverland etc... The Defence Video & Imagery Distribution System website quickly removed the image from their site, and would very much like it off the internet.

Good luck to them...

www.Sierrahotel.net

Original Image: www.facebook.com/1967492403901…

Description
Role: Stealth air superiority fighter
National origin: United States
Manufacturer: Lockheed Martin Aeronautics , Boeing Defense, Space & Security
First flight: 7 September 1997
Introduction: 15 December 2005
Status: In service
Primary user: United States Air Force
Produced: F-22: 1996–2011
Number built: 195 (8 test and 187 operational aircraft)
Program cost: US$66.7 billion as of 2011
Unit cost: US$150 million (flyaway cost for FY2009)
Developed from: Lockheed YF-22
Developed into: Lockheed Martin X-44 MANTA , Lockheed Martin FB-22

The Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor is a fifth-generation single-seat, twin-engine , all-weather stealth tactical fighter aircraft developed for the United States Air Force (USAF). The result of the USAF's Advanced Tactical Fighter program, the aircraft was designed primarily as an air superiority fighter , but has additional capabilities including ground attack , electronic warfare , and signals intelligence roles. Lockheed Martin is the prime contractor and was responsible for the majority of the airframe, weapon systems, and final assembly of the F-22, while program partner Boeing provided the wings, aft fuselage, avionics integration, and training systems.
The aircraft was variously designated F-22 and F/A-22 prior to formally entering service in December 2005 as the F-22A. After a protracted development and despite operational issues, the USAF considers the F-22 a critical component of its tactical air power, and states that the aircraft is unmatched by any known or projected fighter. The Raptor's combination of stealth, aerodynamic performance, and situational awareness gives the aircraft unprecedented air combat capabilities.
The high cost of the aircraft, a lack of clear air-to-air missions due to delays in Russian and Chinese fighter programs, a ban on exports, and development of the more versatile and comparatively lower cost F-35 led to the end of F-22 production. A final procurement tally of 187 operational production aircraft was established in 2009 and the last F-22 was delivered to the USAF in 2012.

Variants:
YF-22A – pre-production technology demonstrator for ATF demonstration/validation phase; two were built.
F-22A – single-seat production version, was designated F/A-22A in early 2000s.
F-22B – planned two-seat variant, but was canceled in 1996 to save development costs.
Naval F-22 variant – a carrier-borne variant of the F-22 with variable-sweep wings for the U.S. Navy 's Navy Advanced Tactical Fighter (NATF) program to replace the F-14 Tomcat . Program was canceled in 1993. Former SoAF Donald Rice has called the possibility of the naval variant the deciding factor for his choice of the YF-22 over the YF-23
Derivatives:

The FB-22 was a proposed medium-range bomber for the USAF. The FB-22 was projected to carry up to 30 Small Diameter Bombs to about twice the range of the F-22A, while maintaining the F-22's stealth and supersonic speed. However, the FB-22 in its planned form appears to have been canceled with the 2006 Quadrennial Defense Review and subsequent developments, in lieu of a larger subsonic bomber with a much greater range.
The X-44 MANTA , or multi-axis, no-tail aircraft, was a planned experimental aircraft based on the F-22 with enhanced thrust vectoring controls and no aerodynamic surface backup. The aircraft was to be solely controlled by thrust vectoring, without featuring any rudders, ailerons, or elevators. Funding for this program was halted in 2000.

General characteristics
Crew: 1
Length: 62 ft 1 in (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)
Airfoil : NACA 64A?05.92 root, NACA 64A?04.29 tip
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)
Powerplant : 2 × Pratt & Whitney F119-PW-100 pitch thrust vectoring turbofans
Dry thrust: 26,000 lb (116 kN) each
Thrust with afterburner : 35,000+ lb (156+ kN) each
Fuel capacity: 18,000 lb (8,200 kg) internally, or 26,000 lb (12,000 kg) with two external fuel tanks
Performance
Maximum speed :
At altitude: Mach 2.25 (1,500 mph, 2,410 km/h) [estimated]
Supercruise : Mach 1.82 (1,220 mph, 1,960 km/h)
Range : >1,600 nmi (1,840 mi, 2,960 km) with 2 external fuel tanks
Combat radius : 410 nmi (with 100 nmi in supercruise) (470 mi, 760 km)
Ferry range : 2,000 mi (1,740 nmi , 3,220 km)
Service ceiling : >65,000 ft (20,000 m)
Wing loading : 77.2 lb/ft² (377 kg/m²)
Thrust/weight : 1.08
Maximum design g -load: −3.0/+9.0 g[110]
Armament
Guns: 1× 20 mm (0.787 in) M61A2 Vulcan 6-barrel Gatling cannon in right wing root, 480 rounds
Air to air mission loadout:
6× AIM-120 AMRAAM
2× AIM-9 Sidewinder
Air to ground mission loadout:
2× 1,000 lb (450 kg) JDAM or 8× 250 lb (110 kg) GBU-39 Small Diameter Bombs
2× AIM-120 AMRAAM
2× AIM-9 Sidewinder
Hardpoints : 4× under-wing pylon stations can be fitted to carry 600 U.S. gallon drop tanks or weapons, each with a capacity of 5,000 lb (2,270 kg).
Avionics
AN/APG-77 radar : 125–150 miles (200–240 km) against 1 m2 (11 sq ft) targets (estimated range)
AN/AAR-56 Missile Launch Detector (MLD)
AN/ALR-94 radar warning receiver (RWR): 250 nmi (463 km) or more detection range
MJU-39/40 flares for protection against IR missiles

Caption for this photo as I found it on Facebook:

THE US GOV DOES NOT WANT YOU TO SEE THIS IMAGE!

We have seen captions like this before on the "inter web", but in this case, it's absolutely correct. Three years ago, The USAF officially released a very pretty picture of this Raptor in flight over Nevada during Red Flag.

It was soon discovered shortly after release, that this image captured something else. As clear as day, and sitting right in the middle of the image, just happens to be Area 51, aka; Dreamland, The Lake, Paradise Ranch, Groom Lake, The Box, The Ranch, Neverland etc... The Defence Video & Imagery Distribution System website quickly removed the image from their site, and would very much like it off the internet.

Good luck to them...

www.Sierrahotel.net

Original Image: www.facebook.com/1967492403901…