F-22 Raptor

5th Gen. Stealth Tactical Fighter | USAF’s Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF)

The F-22 Raptor is the United States Air Force’s elite air superiority fighter — a fifth-generation stealth aircraft born from the Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF) program. Developed by Lockheed Martin, the F-22 blends cutting-edge stealth, unmatched maneuverability, and sensor fusion to establish total dominance in the skies.

  Origins: The ATF Program

In the late 1980s, the U.S. Air Force launched the ATF program to develop a next-generation air superiority fighter to counter future Soviet threats. The program sought a replacement for the F-15C Eagle with advanced stealth, agility, and avionics.

Lockheed Martin’s YF-22 was selected over Northrop’s YF-23 in 1991, and the production version became the F-22 Raptor, entering operational service in 2005.

  Stealth and Survivability

The F-22 features a low radar cross-section from all angles, making it nearly invisible to radar. This is achieved through:

• Internal weapons bays

• Radar-absorbent materials

• Angular design and edge alignment

• Shielded engine inlets and exhaust shaping

Its stealth allows it to “first look, first shot, first kill” — engaging enemy aircraft before being detected.

  Performance and Armament

Designed as an air dominance fighter, the F-22 excels in both beyond-visual-range (BVR) and close-range combat.

Key Specs:

• Top Speed: Mach 2.25+

• Supercruise: Mach 1.82 (without afterburner)

• Range: ~1,800 miles with external tanks

• Service Ceiling: 65,000 feet

Weapons:

• Internal Bays:

  • 6× AIM-120 AMRAAMs

  • 2× AIM-9 Sidewinders

• Ground Attack:

  • 2× 1,000 lb JDAMs (when configured for strike)

• Gun: 20mm M61A2 Vulcan cannon

  Supermaneuverability

Powered by two Pratt & Whitney F119-PW-100 engines with thrust-vectoring nozzles, the Raptor can execute extreme post-stall maneuvers, out-turning and out-climbing any known fighter. This makes it lethal in dogfights, even against modern threats.

   Avionics & Sensor Fusion

The F-22’s AN/APG-77 AESA radar can track, target, and engage multiple aircraft at long range. Combined with advanced sensor fusion, electronic warfare, and secure data links, the Raptor provides pilots with unmatched situational awareness.

Its glass cockpit, voice command integration, and heads-up display allow pilots to manage complex combat scenarios with ease.

  Production and Legacy

Although originally planned for over 700 units, only 187 combat-ready F-22s were built due to rising costs and the end of the Cold War. The aircraft is not exported, making it exclusive to the U.S. Air Force.

Despite the end of production in 2012, the Raptor is continuously upgraded with:

• Improved radar and sensors

• Enhanced electronic warfare systems

• Integration with modern weaponry

  Elite in the Skies

The F-22 Raptor remains unmatched in air superiority. It is the first operational fifth-generation fighter, and to this day, no adversary aircraft has equaled its blend of stealth, speed, and lethality.

Whether leading combat air patrols or suppressing enemy fighters before they even know it’s there, the F-22 is more than a fighter — it’s a symbol of American dominance in air warfare.

Want to see how it compares to the F-35 or other international fifth-gen fighters like the Su-57 or J-20?