The race for the fifth generation continues in the world. Russia is making improvements to the T-50, China is in a hurry to launch its J-20 into serial production, and the Japanese are preparing for the first flight of the Mitsubishi ATD-X. And only one country in the world can not participate in these competitions, because it has already won them. The first pre-production F-22 Raptor took off on September 7, 1997, showing the world that the United States is the world leader in military aircraft manufacturing. In 2001, mass production of this machine began.
The F-22 Raptor is a true 21st century aircraft, incorporating the latest advances in technology. Today American companies are already working on creating a sixth generation fighter, which will be equipped with combat lasers and controlled by artificial intelligence. The temporary head start that the Americans have allows this work to be carried out without unnecessary haste.
Winged generations
Before we talk about fifth-generation aircraft, we need to say a few words about the requirements that these machines face. What specific features and characteristics give reason to classify a particular car as this generation.
The first generation of fighters includes machines made in the 40-50s of the last century. They had a straight wing and subsonic flight speed. Such machines include Messerschmitt Me.262, F-80 Shooting Star, MiG-9.
The second generation of fighters included aircraft produced in the 50-60s. These machines had transonic speed, swept wings, an engine with an afterburner, and a radar was installed on the aircraft. The following aircraft belong to this generation: MiG-15, MiG-17, MiG-19 and F-86 Saber.
The third generation of fighters was produced between the 60s and 80s of the last century. These machines could reach supersonic speed (up to Mach 2), had a more advanced jet engine, and were armed with air-to-air missiles. This group includes MiG-21, MiG-23, F-4 Phantom.
The fourth generation of fighters appeared in the early 80s of the last century, most of the aircraft that are in service different countries the world belong specifically to this generation. They continue to be produced and developed to this day. This generation includes: MiG-29, Su-27, F-15, F-16 and many others. The main differences between these aircraft and the previous generation are: the presence of more advanced avionics, a dual-circuit aircraft engine, and guided weapons.
At the end of the 70s of the last century, when fourth-generation fighters were just “taking their wings,” the USA and USSR had already begun preparatory work on the creation of a fifth-generation fighter, which led to the creation of the F-22 Raptor.
What are the main differences between fifth generation aircraft? Here is a list of criteria that fighters must meet to be included in this group:
- low level of visibility for enemy radars;
- the ability to fly at supersonic speeds without turning on afterburner;
- high maneuverability;
- multifunctionality;
- ability to hit targets from all angles;
- circular information system;
- more advanced avionics, which includes an active phased array radar.
History of the F-22 Raptor
In 1981, the US military department prepared terms of reference to develop a new fighter. Work on the new aircraft had to be carried out taking into account the latest technical achievements of the time: the military demanded that the fighter be equipped with advanced avionics, made unobtrusive to enemy radars, and install fundamentally new engines on it.
The main task of the new aircraft was to gain air supremacy.
In 1986, a competition began, in which the largest American companies took part. Two groups of companies reached the final stage: Northrop/McDonnell Douglas and Lockheed/Boeing/General Dynamics. It was they who presented two prototype aircraft in 1990. The following year, the Lockheed/Boeing/General Dynamics group was declared the winner of the competition; it was supposed to build an American fifth-generation fighter.
It took six years to build the pre-production aircraft, the first F-22 Raptor aircraft took off in 1997, mass production started in 2001, and in 2005 this aircraft began to be officially used.
The first squadron fully equipped with these machines appeared in 2006.
It should be noted that the number of vehicles that the American military department planned to purchase from the manufacturer was constantly decreasing. In 2006, the military wanted to purchase 384 aircraft, but after two years their number had more than halved, to 188 aircraft. The main reason was the high cost of the fighter, as well as the outbreak of the global crisis, which forced the US military to somewhat moderate its appetites.
In 2009, the US Secretary of Defense announced plans to cease aircraft production. In 2011, the last F-22 Raptor rolled off the production line. In the same year, the US Congress decided to activate the program of another fifth-generation fighter - F-35 Lightning, which had a lower cost.
To date, the F-22 is the only fifth-generation fighter that has been tested and put into service. In addition, this aircraft is the most expensive fighter in the history of aviation. The cost of one machine, excluding the funds spent on its development, is $146 million.
The maintenance of this aircraft is also quite expensive. The main problem is the vulnerability of the radio-absorbing coating, which requires special care.
The F-22 Raptor has not been used in actual combat against enemy combat aircraft. The only case of its use took place in 2014, when a missile strike was carried out against Islamic terrorists in Syria. But this case can hardly be called a full-fledged use of a fighter.
Description of design
The aircraft is made according to an integrated circuit; it has a high-mounted trapezoidal wing. The sweep of the leading edge of the wing is 42 degrees. Titanium alloys, aluminum alloys, composite and radio-absorbing materials are widely used in the airframe design. Composite materials not only made it possible to reduce the level of radar signature of the aircraft, but also significantly reduced its weight.
The vertical tail is two-finned. The keels are widely spaced and slope outward (28 degrees). The horizontal tail is all-moving.
All joints formed at the junction of various parts and parts of the aircraft have a sawtooth shape, which reduces reflection electromagnetic waves.
Much attention was paid to the survivability of the vehicle; the survivability of the aircraft after being hit by high-explosive fragmentation ammunition, similar to those used by the Russian Air Force, was taken into account.
The cockpit has a clear canopy made of polycarbonate. It has a special coating that scatters radio waves.
According to pilot reviews, the F-22 Raptor cockpit is one of the most comfortable of all American fighters. The canopy provides the pilot with excellent visibility. The ACES II ejection seat allows the pilot to be evacuated at all speeds and altitudes.
The aircraft's landing gear is tricycle.
The F-22 Raptor's power plant consists of two Pratt & Whitney F119-PW-100 bypass turbojet engines, which allow the aircraft to reach supersonic speed without the use of afterburner, which is one of the main requirements for fifth-generation aircraft.
In addition, these engines are equipped with controlled thrust vectoring, which significantly increases the maneuverability of the fighter. The nozzles have fixed side walls and deviating lower and upper edges, which allow the machine to change the deviation of the thrust vector and adjust the nozzle cross-section. In addition, flat nozzles reduce the aircraft's visibility in the infrared range.
The air intakes are unregulated, diamond-shaped, and have an S-shaped channel to shield the engine compressors from radiation.
The aircraft is equipped with an on-board avionics system developed by TRW, which includes a data processing system, a communications, navigation and identification system ICNIA and a combat electronic complex, including: the Sanders/General Electric AN/ALR-944 electronic warfare system and AN/APG-radar 77.
The radar installed on the fighter deserves special mention. This is an active phased array antenna, which consists of 2 thousand elements that radiate and receive a signal. This radar can detect targets with an ESR of 1 m² at a distance of 225 km in normal mode and at 193 km in LPI mode, cruise missiles with an ESR of 0.1 m² - at a distance of 125 km.
Low Probability of Interception (LPI) mode allows the F-22 Raptor to detect targets while remaining undetected.
The Raptor is armed with a 20mm M61A2 Vulcan cannon, as well as AIM-120C AMRAAM and AIM-9M Sidewinder air-to-air missiles.
Strengths of the F-22 Raptor
The concept of using the aircraft can be described by the following motto: “Discovered earlier, destroyed faster.”
An excellent set of electronic equipment, especially a powerful and sophisticated radar, gives the fighter the ability to detect the enemy at long distances while remaining undetected.
The fighter's low radar signature means the F-22 Raptor can be the first to detect an enemy aircraft and destroy it. In addition, modern fourth-generation aircraft turn on the afterburner before launching a rocket to gain speed; the Raptor does not need to do this.
The F-22 Raptor has a significant service ceiling, which is also an advantage in dogfights.
In its maneuverability characteristics, the F-22 is superior to any fourth-generation aircraft. The aircraft's excellent aerodynamic qualities and engines with controlled thrust vectoring provide the fighter with excellent maneuverability and controllability in all flight modes.
Multifunctionality. The F-22 Raptor was originally designed as an air superiority fighter. Therefore, it is not very well suited for striking ground targets. Most standard American air-to-ground weapons simply do not fit in its internal compartments. It is possible to mount the weapon on an external sling, but in this case the fighter loses its main advantage: stealth.
Problems during operation
The main problem that arose during the operation of this aircraft was a problem in the oxygen supply system for the pilot’s breathing. Pilots complained of suffocation and unusual odors in the cockpit.
In 2012, for this reason, strict restrictions on flights were introduced: pilots were not allowed to move a significant distance away from the runways, or fly above 7.6 thousand meters.
An inspection was carried out and the cause of the problem was discovered. She turned out to be a vest that pilots wear to make breathing easier. Changes were made to its design, and the problem was solved.
Flight performance
| Modification | F/A-22A |
| Wingspan, m | 13,56 |
| Aircraft length, m | 18,9 |
| Aircraft height, m | 5,08 |
| Wing area, m | 78,04 |
| Weight, kg | |
| empty | 19700 |
| normal takeoff | 29300 |
| maximum takeoff | 38000 |
| fuel | 8200 |
| Engine type | 2 Pratt Whitney F119-PW-100 turbofans |
| Static forced traction, kN | 2 x 156.0+ |
| Maximum speed, km/h | 2410 (M=2.25) |
| Cruising speed, km/h | 1963 (M=1.82) |
| Ferry range, km | 3219 |
| Practical range with PTB, km | 2960 |
| Combat radius, km | 759 |
| Practical ceiling, m | 19812 |
| Max. operational overload | 9 |
| Crew, people | 1 |
Fighter video
If you have any questions, leave them in the comments below the article. We or our visitors will be happy to answer them
In the first part of our article, we looked at the reasons for the high cost of the latest American fighter, the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor. As it turned out, the program for creating this aircraft, which at one time looked not so complicated, over time acquired a lot of problems that ultimately affected the cost of research and development work, as well as the cost of building any individual aircraft. It is quite obvious that economic difficulties are associated with technical problems. Mastering new technologies, as well as correcting seemingly small defects, can result in a significant increase in the cost of the entire program. Let's look at the technical side of the F-22 project and figure out what was done and what wasn't. In addition, some features of the aircraft are worth attention, which were preserved until the last batches of mass production.
Once again it is necessary to remind: the bulk technical information information about the Raptor fighter is still closed and available only to certain US military personnel with appropriate permissions. For this reason, all information below has been taken only from open sources and, perhaps, does not have one hundred percent correspondence to the real modern situation. In addition, a number of technical problems or difficulties with the F-22 aircraft are directly related to financial side project, so the second part of the article may intersect with the first and complement it.
Philosophy of balance
Since the mid-eighties, the ATF (Advanced Tactical Fighter) program has been carried out in accordance with an updated financial ideology. The military began to demand not just any performance at any cost, but the maximum possible flight and combat performance that can be achieved at a price of one aircraft of 35-40 million dollars. At one time, this approach received a lot of positive feedback, but in practice everything turned out to be much more complicated. In light of the new decision, the technical appearance of the future F-22 aircraft began to be called balanced. First of all, this balance concerned the overall set of characteristics and cost. In more specific cases, the concept of equilibrium required, without much damage, to “make friends” with several parameters and technical nuances at once. So, good maneuverability had to be combined with low visibility, low visibility and the corresponding contours of the aircraft with a good supply of fuel and weapons, and so on. In general, a seemingly good and interesting ideology of balancing various characteristics threatened a lot of problems for engineers. The Pentagon still demanded the highest possible characteristics, which were sometimes very difficult to achieve.
And yet, the designers of the Lockheed Martin company managed to partially satisfy the requirements of the military, and also give the aircraft the maximum capabilities that could be provided within the given weight, size and financial limits. To begin with, it’s worth focusing on stealth. According to available data, the F-22 fighter has an effective dispersion area of 0.3-0.4 square meters. Unlike the frankly unsuccessful F-117A, the F-22 fighter was initially designed as a combat vehicle with good flight characteristics. Stealth received a lower priority, which is why the finished aircraft received specific contours of the fuselage and wing, which, at the same time, do not have significant differences from most fighters. In any case, in my own way general appearance The Raptor really looks like an airplane, and not some strange iron, as was the case with the F-117A. Stealth, in turn, was achieved by secondary means, such as the same orientation of the edges, located at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the aircraft or the keels falling outward. When developing such a look, employees of the aerodynamic departments of Lockheed and NASA had to seriously face this very “balance”. Nevertheless, they managed to combine a relatively small ESR and good flight data.
The aircraft's stealth also had to be balanced with high maneuverability. According to generally accepted opinion, a fifth-generation fighter must be super-maneuverable, which is usually achieved by using thrust vectoring engines. The F-22 uses original rectangular nozzles with deflectable flaps. Simultaneously with the change in the thrust vector, such nozzles provide an effective reduction in the temperature of the emitted gases. As a result, it was possible to achieve an optimal balance between maneuverability and visibility in the infrared range. Employees of Lockheed Martin and Pratt & Whitney managed to make power plant, fully meeting the requirements of the military. At the same time, the original rectangular nozzle turned out to be quite complex in engineering terms.
In general, the need to ensure low visibility in radar ranges seriously affected the entire first stage of the project, associated with determining the general features of the future aircraft. The need to balance flight performance and stealth has led to the use of a number of controversial technical solutions. For example, it was initially planned to make the wing power kit only from composite parts based on carbon fiber. This approach could further reduce visibility. However, later, according to test results, it was necessary to replace a considerable part of these parts with metal ones. As it turned out, carbon fiber spars have a smaller margin of safety than titanium ones, and are also much more complex to manufacture and are almost not suitable for quick replacement in a military workshop. Of course, the change in the material of the powertrain parts entailed a serious alteration of all related components and assemblies, and also significantly complicated the production of the aircraft frame.
I carry everything that’s mine... inside me
A characteristic feature of the F-22 aircraft was the absence of permanent external suspensions intended for use in combat. If necessary, four pylons can be installed under the wing of a fighter for external fuel tanks or for missiles. However, in this case, the aircraft's RCS indicators increase significantly, and on the radar screen it looks about the same as the older F-15 or F-16. Because of this, in a real combat situation it is recommended to use exclusively internal suspension.
The use of only internal volumes in combination with the required dimensions and weights of a promising aircraft has become one of the most difficult goals in its development. If with the internal tanks everything was more or less simple and almost all available volumes were allocated for them, then we had to tinker with the transportation and use of weapons. Firstly, it was necessary to allocate volumes for cargo compartments. The main volume for weapons is located in the middle part of the fuselage, immediately behind the air intakes. The dimensions and equipment of this cargo bay allow it to accommodate up to six AIM-120 missiles. Two more smaller volumes are located on the sides of the main one. Each of them has space for only one AIM-9 missile. The second problem when creating cargo compartments was to ensure the possibility of using weapons in any conditions. A certain device was needed that could push the rocket beyond the internal volume of the aircraft when flying at high speeds and under any overload.
In light of the technical data of the missiles various types I had to do two at once starting devices A. For heavier and larger AIM-120s, they developed an ejector device capable of throwing the missile out of the aircraft at supersonic speeds and over the entire range of permissible overloads. This device is a system of pneumatic and hydraulic cylinders. The first, at a speed of about eight meters per second, takes the rocket outside the cargo compartment, “breaking through” the boundary layer of air. The second, in turn, ensures the uncoupling of the ammunition and its removal away from the aircraft. The already complex ejection system was complicated by the fact that in a combat situation a minimum amount of time is required from pressing the launch button until the missile begins its independent flight. After several months of complex research in wind tunnels and high costs managed to bring the ejector operating time to 0.8-0.9 seconds. The military initially wanted to get a faster device, but further work in this direction was stopped due to the strength characteristics of the missiles. The AIM-120 leaves the cargo bay with an overload of about forty units. Greater acceleration during ejection can lead to damage to the ammunition, including its complete inoperability.
The second missile ejection system is designed for the lighter AIM-9 and is built on a different principle. Before launch, the rocket is lowered from the cargo compartment, and its front part extends more than the rear. The trapezoidal unit on which the holding devices are located does not have any means for shooting the rocket - after turning on the engine, it independently leaves the guide. The internal components of the aircraft are protected by a special gas barrier. It is quite clear that both versions of launching devices are much more complex than the usual underwing pylons with beam holders. Moreover, this complexity concerns both design and maintenance. The ejector and trapezoid actually do not differ from the old designs only in their “attitude” to the pilot. He still just needs to press the appropriate button. A characteristic feature of the new complex units was the impossibility of abandoning them. Stealth requirements simply do not allow for simplifying the design and maintenance of the aircraft through the use of less complex launch devices.
It is worth noting that the F-22 fighter can still carry weapons on an external sling. However, as already mentioned, the EPR of the aircraft is greatly deteriorated, and some problems with aerodynamics are also possible. At the end of the nineties, pylons for PTB or weapons had already undergone serious redesign. During the tests, it turned out that the first version of these units increased the likelihood of flutter. According to available data, during the alteration not only the shape of the pylons was changed, but also their design. When developing new suspension devices, Lockheed Martin engineers tried to ensure minimal visibility of the aircraft even when using pylons. For this purpose, according to some sources, they are made in the form of a monolithic carbon fiber part. Considering the fact that the pylons can be jettisoned to provide full piloting capabilities and stealth, this design does not look particularly successful, especially in financially. During subsequent upgrades, it was planned to return to this issue and again improve the pylons for the external suspension.
It's hard to be independent
One of the main requirements for the new aircraft was simplification maintenance and preparation for departure. To do this, in order to speed up the launch of on-board systems, the F-22 was equipped with an auxiliary power unit. This unit provides the aircraft with electrical energy before starting the engines, which drive the main generators, hydraulic and pneumatic pumps. It is worth noting that the fighter’s APU turned out to be one of the most reliable units. The last major troubles with the auxiliary power unit ended in the late nineties, when the next test flight had to be rescheduled several times. Then the low-power gas turbine unit was significantly improved and henceforth did not cause much trouble.
The second way to facilitate maintenance was to be the pilot’s life support system, namely the part responsible for supplying air and oxygen. On all American aircraft before the F-22, the pilot received oxygen for breathing from appropriate cylinders. However, such a system requires constant refueling or replacement of internal gas tanks. Since the F-22 had to be able to conduct long-term patrols and prepare for flight as quickly as possible, the customer and the developer ultimately came to the conclusion that an oxygen regeneration system was necessary. For this purpose, the OBOGS (On-board oxygen generating system) complex was ordered from Normalair Garrett. As the name implies, OBOGS is designed to process the gases exhaled by the pilot and restore the normal amount of oxygen. Thus, all maintenance of the oxygen system comes down to timely replacement of regenerating cassettes and cleaning of filters. As a spare respiratory system The F-22 was equipped with additional units of the “classic” EOS complex: an oxygen cylinder and related equipment.
In addition to directly providing the pilot with oxygen, the OBOGS system is responsible for protecting the pilot from overloads. The life support systems include a combined Combat Eagle suit, which combines anti-overload, altitude-compensating and heat-protective properties. The rather complex design of the suit, among other things, made it impossible to repair it in a combat unit. Therefore, if certain damage occurs, the Combat Eagle suit is simply written off, and the pilot receives a new one. However, as it turned out, the low maintainability of the anti-g suit and the complexity of the regeneration system were far from the biggest problems of the new fighter. Several months ago it became known that a lot of problems in the field of life support for the pilot were caused by one small detail, which at first no one thought to blame for anything.
Suffocating overload
In mid-November 2010, an F-22 combat fighter crashed in Alaska, killing pilot J. Haney. The cause of the incident was considered to be a failure of the OBOGS system, which caused hypoxia, due to which the pilot lost consciousness and did not have time to turn on the spare EOS. Because of this, all aircraft have had their software updated – now the backup breathing system is turned on automatically. However, these alterations did not guarantee 100% elimination of problems. Subsequently, pilots of combat units repeatedly complained of serious problems in flight: in a number of cases they felt suffocated. After further investigations, a commission of the US Air Force and Lockheed Martin found out that the cause of suffocation was the asynchronous operation of the breathing module of the OBOGS system, which is responsible for the pressure of oxygen supplied to the pilot, and the units that monitor the compensation of overloads. Due to the desynchronization of the work of these elements of the life support complex, the pilot’s chest and stomach were compressed by the suit from the outside, and from the inside this pressure was not compensated by sufficient pressure of the supplied oxygen. Just a few seconds of such problems in certain circumstances led to atelectasis - collapse of the alveoli. In the vast majority of cases, this phenomenon does not lead to serious health problems, but requires the pilot to be given a couple of days of additional rest. In addition, several pilots, having been subjected to short-term asphyxiations, filed reports asking to be removed from flying the F-22 until all problems were corrected.
In July 2012, a Pentagon spokesman announced the results of the investigation. It turned out that the OBOGS system module, which was responsible for the proper functioning of the anti-g part of the Combat Eagle suit, was to blame for the problems with suffocation. Or rather, not the module itself, but one of its parts. One of the valves in the suit's inflation system turned out to be unusable. It freely passed air inside the suit, but did not provide the proper bleeding speed. As a result, upon exiting the overload maneuver, the OBOGS breathing module reduced the pressure of the supplied oxygen to the required value, and the suit continued to remain inflated until the air was released from it at the rate that that same ill-fated valve could provide. Even before the announcement of the results of the investigation, the air supply system to the anti-overload system was noticeably improved and once again checked for proper operation. By the end of the summer of this year, a set of new parts was created, intended for re-equipping F-22 combat aircraft. By the beginning of 2013, all fighter aircraft in the US Air Force will be re-equipped with new components.
All these problems with the anti-g part of the OBOGS complex entailed not only troubles with the health of the pilots. Since the 2010 disaster, F-22 fighters have regularly been subject to new restrictions on flight modes. In the final months before the new valves were installed, Raptor pilots were required to fly at low altitudes and without Combat Eagle suits. In addition, the command ordered the flight route to be laid out in such a way that from any point it would be possible to reach the nearest airfield in no more than half an hour. It is not difficult to guess how much the combat potential of the newest American fighter has fallen. But the culprit of all these technical troubles, disasters and health problems for the pilots was a small valve, which at one time was somehow able to pass all the checks and tests.
Impact power and impact weakness
The ATF program at the initial concept development stage implied the creation of a promising fighter-bomber. The aircraft was supposed to destroy both air and ground targets with equal efficiency. However, during the study technical features The future aircraft encountered a number of problems. First of all, the very concept of balance added trouble. Stealth requirements led to the placement of all weapons inside the fuselage, which, in turn, forced the designers to make the cargo compartments as small as possible. As a result, a considerable part of the American air-to-ground guided weapons simply cannot fit inside the volume allocated for weapons on the F-22. For example, the AGM-88 HARM anti-radar missile is about half a meter longer than the AIM-120 missile and has almost three times the wingspan. In addition, HARM is 200 kilograms heavier than the AMRAAM missile. Thus, the weight and dimensions of the main modern US anti-radar missile do not allow it to be launched from an F-22 aircraft. Of course, the Raptor can also carry a missile on an external sling, but in this case it turns from an inconspicuous radar hunter into another particularly dangerous target that will attract increased attention from enemy air defenses. As for bombs, the situation with them is approximately the same as with missiles. The carrying capacity of the aircraft's internal suspensions does not allow large and heavy ammunition to be taken on board. The caliber of bombs used is limited to one thousand pounds (454 kg).
A notable feature of the F-22 fighter's avionics is the complete absence of any specialized equipment intended only for operation against ground targets. The requirement to include the cost of the aircraft in the amount determined by the Pentagon, even at the expense of its characteristics, led to the removal of characteristic bomber equipment from its appearance. At the same time, Lockheed Martin engineers tried to maintain at least limited bombing capabilities. The algorithms necessary for detecting and identifying ground targets were prudently left in the software of the on-board computers. The destruction of these targets, in turn, was supposed to be carried out from the very beginning with guided bombs guided by a signal navigation system GPS. After the adoption of the JDAM kit, designed to convert free-fall bombs into a controlled configuration, it was these “smart” munitions that became the F-22’s main weapon for attacking ground targets.
The presence of GPS-corrected bombs in the arsenal of the F-22 aircraft has significantly expanded its combat capabilities. However, it is far from what the customer would like. In practice, one Raptor can only carry two thousand-pound GBU-32 JDAM bombs in the main cargo bay. Simultaneously with two bombs, the aircraft has to take on board two AMRAAM missiles (in the main cargo bay) and two Sidewinders in the side ones. The use of converted bombs forces the aircraft to get quite close to the target, which is why it is necessary to carry weapons for self-defense. In the fall of 2006, the US Air Force adopted the GBU-39 SDB (Small Diameter Bomb) adjustable bomb. This 250-pound munition has a guidance system similar to JDAM bombs. Thanks to its smaller size and lighter weight, the F-22's main cargo bay can accommodate up to sixteen of these bombs. However, in practice, it will be possible to load no more than eight - the outer holders of the main cargo compartment and additional “bomb bays” are again allocated for guided missiles for self-defense. Thus, one aircraft can carry up to four GBU-39 bombs with a range of up to 110 kilometers. However, the number and range are offset by power, because the GBU-39 carries only 17 kilograms of explosives versus 202 kg for the GBU-32.
In general, the F-22 has good opportunities conducting air combat, for which it was originally intended, but at the same time cannot fully carry out attacks on ground targets. Because of this, the strike force of the American Air Force in cases where it is necessary to attack enemy targets or equipment continues to be quite old F-15 and F-16 aircraft of later modifications. In fact, problems with air-to-ground weapons are one of the main reasons why Raptors have not taken part in recent conflicts. Attacks on ground targets are difficult due to the too small range of relevant weapons. When it comes to air superiority, some of the F-22's capabilities may even be overkill in modern conflicts. Thus, during the Iraq War, American F/A-18 fighter-bombers destroyed about forty Iraqi aircraft during air battles. Moreover, only one American fighter was lost during such clashes. It is quite obvious that in the fight against the air forces of third world countries, the F-22 is not very effective in economic terms: the combat operation of this fighter is noticeably more expensive than sorties of other types. In this case, taking into account the nature of the targets, the combat effectiveness turns out to be approximately equal.
Mixed results
It is worth noting that the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor fighter has much fewer technical problems than economic ones. As already mentioned, the technical and financial aspects of the project are very closely related to each other and constantly intersect. In terms of the ratio of technical advantages and cost, the authors of the F-22 project failed to maintain the required balance. Satisfying customer requirements has led to a constant need for additional research and development work. As a result, new interesting technical solutions appeared as part of the project, which, however, had a very direct impact on the total cost of the entire program. As a result good characteristics the aircraft owes its high cost.
However, despite all the know-how, the Raptor ultimately received insufficient capabilities to attack ground targets. This is where the second aspect of the overall appearance came into play, in which it was never possible to maintain the desired balance. Low visibility for radar stations led to the requirement to fit the entire payload inside the fuselage, which directly affected the maximum permissible dimensions of ammunition and, as a consequence, the range of weapons. At the same time, the aircraft's avionics are quite capable of working not only with bombs guided by a signal from the GPS system. However, due to economic and technical troubles, the aircraft could not be equipped with equipment for, for example, laser-guided bombs or missiles. When it comes to radar-guided air-to-ground munitions, a number of factors have had their say. Suitable bombs or missiles with active radar seekers turned out to be either too large and heavy, or not powerful enough. The use of a passive radar head, in turn, is associated with the need to illuminate the target, and this almost completely eliminates all the advantages of the stealth design. So the JDAM and SDB bombs are actually a compromise between stealth and at least satisfactory strike capabilities.
To summarize, we can say that the technical side of the F-22 project is to some extent an excuse for the uniquely high cost of work and construction of the aircraft. However, some successful and promising solutions continue to remain questionable for mass use. Fortunately for the US military, all existing problems of the fighter are gradually being corrected, although this leads to additional expenses or the need to introduce restrictions on flight modes. However, the Raptor project turned out to be so complex that it is difficult to predict how soon new reports of technical problems will appear, and what specific design nuance they will concern. On November 15, another combat F-22 crashed near Tyndall Air Force Base (USA, Florida). The incident is being investigated special commission, and any information has not yet been disclosed. At present, no one can exclude the possibility that the recent accident will be the beginning of a whole series of events, as was the case with the disaster two years ago. If this is indeed the case, then the F-22 fighter risks cementing its reputation as not only the most expensive and controversial aircraft in American aviation, but also the most difficult and unpredictable to operate.
Based on materials:
http://lockheedmartin.com/
http://northropgrumman.com/
http://airwar.ru/
http://vpk.name/
http://warandpeace.ru/
http://globalsecurity.org/
http://intel.com/
http://oborona.ru/
http://ausairpower.net/
http://lenta.ru/
http://bbc.co.uk/
Kudishin I.V. F-22 Raptor and JSF. American fifth generation fighters. – M.: Astrel/AST, 2002
Ctrl Enter
Noticed osh Y bku Select text and click Ctrl+Enter
The F-22 Raptor fighter jet is a multi-role aircraft developed jointly by the most successful companies USA in aircraft manufacturing. This project was launched to replace the aging F-15 Eagle fighter aircraft. The new F-22 class aircraft is the only fifth-class fighter aircraft in service with the US Air Force.
The history of the F-22 aircraft
The US military has long planned to order the production of a higher quality vehicle, which would differ in its characteristics from all existing ones. aircraft. So, at the beginning of 1981, the Air Force command drew up the basic requirements for the new fighter. The most important thing was to equip it with the most sophisticated and new avionics and computer-controlled engines. In addition, the vehicle must be practically invisible to all enemy devices, and at the same time it must perform many functions and combat missions.
In the summer of 1986, a competition was launched to create a new device, and two teams were organized to create a new unit; 50 months were allocated for the design. Both products were ready at the beginning of 90, they were designated as product YF-22 and product YF-23. Due to the fact that during the design and manufacturing process in the 80s it was used large number means, manufacturers had to discard the installation of a side-view radar and some other optics and protection systems. The customers themselves were forced to refuse of this equipment, since the installation of this advanced equipment would lead to greater costs for further development of the F-22 project. The winner of this competition in the summer of 1991 was declared a machine created by the following companies: Lockheed, Boeing and Dynamics.
F-22 video
The first F-22 aircraft lifted off the runway in September 1997. In comparison with the original version of the project, this device had a power plant with significantly higher thrust indicators - 15.8 thousand kgf. The engines had the ability to change the planes into which the thrust vectors were directed. This machine also differed from the prototype version in the structure of its hull.
Serial production of the F-22 fighter began in 2001. And in 2004, the first vehicles of this class were transferred to the US Air Force military base called Nellis. From the start of production until 2004, 51 fighters were created. The first combat squadron, consisting of F-22 aircraft, was completed in 2006 and was based at Langley.
At the beginning of 2006, the US government planned to order 384 aircraft of this class, but in 2008 this number was reduced to 188, and at that time 127 units were already ready. This decrease in order was caused by the global economic crisis and the relatively high cost of the aircraft. Due to all this, the government made big bets on the cheaper and more efficient F-35. In addition, in 2009, the government cut funding for the F-22 Raptor fighter jet project. Also in 2011, the US Congress announced the end further development of this aircraft in favor of the F-35. The last production F-22 Raptor was manufactured in December 2011. Over the entire period of serial production, 195 machines of this type were created.
Design features of the F-22 Raptor multirole fighter
The designers based the development of the new machine on the basic credo: first to see, first to destroy. To obtain such indicators, many of the most best systems camouflage and visibility reduction type Stealth.
A special feature of this fighter was the placement of weapons in the interior of the aircraft, which significantly reduced visibility. Still, the plane has seats for weapons on the wings, but they were practically not used. This decision of the designers significantly increased universal qualities apparatus.
The hull of this fighter consisted of 40% new composite materials, the use of which made it possible to significantly reduce the weight of the structure. These materials were represented by carbon fiber with increased resistance to overheating. The design widely used materials that absorbed radio waves. Many parts were equipped with PCM, which are made of bismalemid; they could withstand temperatures of 230 degrees.
Structures such as the canopy and landing gear compartments were made in a sawtooth shape. This design contributed to more efficient dispersion of electromagnetic waves, which reduced the visibility of the vehicle in flight to enemy radars. The wings of the F-22 Raptor were diamond-shaped with a V-shaped vertical stabilizer. As for the survivability of the vehicle, it was designed to withstand impacts from incendiary projectiles Russian production, which had a caliber of 30 millimeters.
The Raptor's power plant consists of two P&W F119-PW-100 engines, which are equipped with jet nozzles with a flat design. This scheme significantly reduces visibility in the IR spectrum. These engines are equipped with afterburners. The thrust-to-weight ratio of the device is represented by a thrust of 15,876 kgf. Without the use of afterburner, the engines produce a power of 11 thousand kgf. It should be noted that even without the use of afterburner, the machine easily overcomes the speed of sound, and only a few aircraft have these indicators. The fighter's nozzles are made of special ceramic materials that have high rates of absorption of radio waves, which also reduces the visibility of the device.
The on-board equipment includes two computer installations with the designation CIP. Each system consists of 66 modules, and each module is based on a 32-bit i960-class processor.
Onboard radar system is represented by the AN/APG-77 installation, which is equipped with a phased antenna. A special feature of the antenna is that it consists of 2 thousand elements that receive and transmit signals. This installation allows target detection at a distance of 225 kilometers, and the radar installation range is 525 kilometers. This radar is equipped with security systems that prevent the enemy from intercepting the signal. The aircraft's radar allows you to find a target in such a way that the enemy will not notice it using his equipment.
As for the combat power of the F-22 Raptor, it was represented by a 20-mm M61A2 Vulcan class cannon, with which it can fire 480 salvos. In addition, the vehicle carried six air-to-air missiles designated AIM-120C AMRAAM, and two AIM-9M Sidewinder missiles were also installed. The bomb load was also placed on board the device, which consisted of adjustable bombs of the JDAM model and guided bomb shells of the GBU-39 type. A special feature of the F-22 fighter was that it could attack at supersonic flight speeds.
F-22 Raptor fighter characteristics:
| Modification | F/A-22A |
| Wingspan, m | 13,56 |
| Aircraft length, m | 18,90 |
| Aircraft height, m | 5,08 |
| Wing area, m | 78,04 |
| Weight, kg | |
| empty | 19700 |
| normal takeoff | 29300 |
| maximum takeoff | 38000 |
| fuel | 8200 |
| Engine type | 2 Pratt Whitney F119-PW-100 turbofans |
| Static forced traction, kN | 2 x 156.0+ |
| Maximum speed, km/h | 2410 (M=2.25) |
| Cruising speed, km/h | 1963 (M=1.82) |
| Ferry range, km | 3219 |
| Practical range with PTB, km | 2960 |
| Combat radius, km | 759 |
| Practical ceiling, m | 19812 |
| Max. operational overload | 9,0 |
| Crew, people | 1 |
The aircraft is designed to replace the interceptor, bomber, AWACS and reconnaissance aircraft. A machine that can radically change the course of a battle while remaining undetected. Fighter with filling spaceship, but performing earthly tasks. The F-22 Raptor is the world's first fifth-generation aircraft in service. The Raptor should become the mainstay and main defender of America's interests for decades to come.
The device has already undergone a baptism of fire, where it fully demonstrated its qualities and defended its right to exist.
Story
Both the American and Soviet military were aware of the need for a new generation fighter. Work began almost simultaneously, namely in 1981. The main indicators were to be: super-maneuverability, supersonic cruising speed and stealth.
For the Pentagon, the issue was more acute. The fact is that the Soviet Su-27 and MiG-29 came out later than the American F-15 and F-16, and, accordingly, were developed using more advanced technical solutions.
The program was announced in May 1986. By the end of that year, two main competitors emerged - companies led by Lockheed on the one hand and Northrop on the other. Participants were supposed to show flying prototypes within 4 years.
By the beginning of 1990, the teams presented their models: YF-23 and YF-22. The devices came out much more expensive than the expected budget, for this reason it was decided to abandon some devices, namely the side-view radar and the optical-electronic guidance station. During testing, both prototypes showed their advantages and disadvantages.
The YF-23 model had less aerodynamic drag and better stealth characteristics, especially in the IR range. This was achieved thanks to specially shaped nozzles, which, however, worsen maneuvering characteristics. Such an aircraft is unable to perform a number of aerobatic maneuvers, such as the Cobra, for example.
Lockheed's YF-22 model, on the contrary, had good maneuvering qualities, thanks to its controlled thrust vector. Another important advantage of the YF-22 was its large payload. As a result, the prototype from the Lockheed YF-22 group was recognized as the best and won the competition.
The first pre-production prototype flew in September 1997.
Adjustments were made to the original airframe and more powerful engines with a deflectable thrust vector in the vertical plane.
Serial production of the aircraft began in 2001. The first vehicle was received at Nellis Air Force Base within 20 months. By 2004, the plant produced the 51st product.
The initial order of 750 vehicles was reduced. The government did not see the point in purchasing a large number of expensive cars, since the main geopolitical rival was Soviet Union had already collapsed by this time. Thus, the troops accepted the last 187th aircraft in 2012, completing the program.
Design
“First look - first kill” (first noticed - won) - a concept developed by the military, which implies that the one who detects first will win the battle, that is, it was supposed to exchange missiles at long distances.
The emphasis was placed on stealth technology at the expense of super-maneuverability: the engine nozzles are made of a special shape, eliminating maneuvers in the horizontal plane.
The weapons were hidden in special compartments - the cone-shaped parts of the missiles perfectly reflect radio waves, but the traditional suspension points were left in place. Fuel tanks are installed on the wing suspensions during long hauls.
Glider
The main task in designing the F-22 airframe is to reduce the ESR, that is, to minimize the reflection of radio waves from the enemy radar. They tried to place the protruding parts of the aircraft, such as the nose and tail, on parallel lines - a diamond-shaped wing and a V-shaped tail. Even the air intakes and joints of the body sheets have a special geometric shape.
These measures were supposed to reflect the radar beams away from the antenna. On the other hand, developers have actively begun to use radio-absorbing materials (RAM). According to various sources, their share in the airframe reaches 40%, of which 30% are heat-resistant. The polymer base was bismaleimides. In addition to them, Avimid K-III thermoplastic carbon fiber plastics are presented, which retain their properties even with damage and heating.
Engines
The fighter is equipped with two Whitney F119-PW-100 engines. This is a turbojet engine designed specifically for the ATF program. The compressor blades are made using blisk technology, that is, as one piece with the disk. This design can withstand heavy loads, which allows the compressor to pump more air into the combustion chamber.
The engine control system is electronic: the controller regulates the fuel supply, depending on flight conditions.
Compared to its predecessors, the engine produces 22% more power at the same consumption and has 40% fewer parts and components.
Characteristics of F119-PW-100
- thrust: 11829 kgf;
- Afterburner thrust: 16785 kgf;
- length: 5.16 m;
- diameter: 1.168 m;
- weight: 1770 kg;
- Thrust-to-weight ratio: 7.95.
The reason the F-22 prototype initially won the competition was due to its greater maneuverability, made possible by thrust vectoring. The nozzles can deviate in the vertical plane by 20 degrees and also have a flat shape.
A hot jet stream, with this shape, transfers heat more efficiently to environment and cools down. As a result, the visibility of the object in the IR range is reduced.
Electronic filling
The F-22 is the technologically advanced aircraft of the US Air Force. The aircraft is ready for any scenario and for this it is equipped with:
- Radiation detector AN/ALR-94. Consists of 32 antennas distributed throughout the body. The complex registers enemy radar radiation, calculates its coordinates, the type of vessel and, if there are several of them, sets priorities depending on the threat posed. The pilot's screen displays information about the enemy in the form of a circle, indicating the range of his weapons. The data can be transmitted to radar or can be used to passively target weapons. In the first case, the radar, having received the coordinates, illuminates the target with a narrow beam, avoiding scanning the entire area.
- Infrared and ultraviolet AN/AAR-56 missile launch sensors, also spaced 360 degrees. The jet of the fired rocket emits in the infrared range, which is detected by the device. Sensors determine the missile launch site and, based on this data, the computer displays the optimal escape maneuver in graphical form.
- Radar AN/APG-77v1. Installation with an active phased array antenna (AFAR). Its fundamental difference from passive phased array is the absence of a single transmitter. The signal is formed by many active microtransmitters, which makes it possible to generate powerful radiation. But on the other hand, heat generation increases, which requires the installation of liquid cooling. In total, the mass of the AN/APG-77 complex was 553 kg, and the cooling pump capacity was 35 liters of liquid per minute.
As you can see, electronic systems are tightly integrated in hardware and complement each other. Devices based on different operating principles identify any existing threats.
By mixing all the data, a single circular information system is created, which takes the burden off the pilot and ultimately increases his survivability.
Radar station
A completely new radar with electronic beam sweep was created for the fighter. The onboard radar is represented by the AN/APG-77 model. Its feature is a pseudo-random frequency change mode. It is based on the idea of repeatedly changing the frequency randomly. It will be more difficult for enemy stations to detect such a signal.
The second feature is 2 thousand elements, each of which is a receiving and transmitting cell.
The resolution of such a station is qualitatively improved - the number of tracked targets has increased to 100, and it has also become possible to transmit commands to a fired missile using a beam.
Type target detection range
- Fighter with ESR >3 m² up to 250-310 km (Su-27, Mig 29, Eurofighter Typhoon).
- Cruise missiles (0.1-0.5 m²) - up to 150 km.
- Tanks and boats - up to 70 km.
Other characteristics
- The viewing angle horizontally and vertically is 120 degrees.
- The number of targets fired at the same time is 20 units.
- The complete picture update time is 14 seconds.
- Maximum average power – 18500 Watts.
With such parameters, the F-22 “Raptor” is a full-fledged AWACS aircraft, being its compact version.
Avionics
The aircraft systems are controlled by dual computers with a high degree of reliability, based on RISC processors. Flight information is displayed on a head-up display and six multi-function color displays.
Entering the autopilot route and communication parameters is done through the ICP remote control located above the central display. The introduction of voice control, originally planned, was cancelled. Low reliability of recognition and long reaction times were the main reasons for abandoning this idea.
Avionics modernization is expensive.
This is due to the fact that the processing unit, indicators, input panel and many other controls are closely integrated and replacing one of the components is impossible without a complete upgrade of all electronics.
Data transfer
TRW was entrusted with developing critical components, namely communications and recognition. The complex consists of a friendly object identification system, IFDL buses and Link-16 JTIDS. Over the IDFL channel, transmission works in both directions, while Link16 JTIDS is configured only to receive data, since there is a high probability of its interception.
The Increment 3.2 program was tasked with upgrading the communications interface to the MADL level, which was already installed in the B-2 bomber and the F-35 Lightning 2 interceptor. However, it was decided to curtail the project due to the outbreak of financial crisis.
Armament
Main task, set to Raptor - gaining air supremacy. However modern methods warfare requires the vehicle to also be able to carry bombs. In total, the hull has three compartments: a central one for bombs and heavy ammunition and two small ones for anti-aircraft missiles. The sash opens and releases in less than a second - otherwise the EPR value will increase sharply.
The small arms and cannon weapons are 20 mm multi-barreled, with 420 rounds of ammunition. The gun's rate of fire is 4,000 rounds per minute. The barrels are cooled by air, as a result of which the burst duration is limited to 1.4 seconds. During air combat, the fire control system calculates the optimal lead and projects the firing point onto the head-mounted indicator.
In addition, the range of weapons includes:
- AIM-9M "Sidewinder" air-to-air missile with a thermal homing head. The most common model, which has about 20 modifications, including anti-location and anti-tank versions. The maximum flight range is 18 km.
- AIM-120 AMRAAM is an air-to-air missile with a radar seeker. It has an on-board computer that selects the optimal flight path. The initial portion of the flight of the AIM-120 flies at the command of the carrier's radar. In the middle of the journey, its own radar turns on, and the rocket continues its flight independently. The flight range of the standard model is 60 km, and the modified one is 120 km:
- GBU-32 JDAM - Adjustable free-fall bomb. The shelling is carried out at previously known coordinates. The probable deviation is 11 meters. Unlike laser guidance systems, the GPS signal is not sensitive to adverse weather.
- GBU-39/B is a free-falling bomb with a developed tail. Developed using stealth technologies. Having an EPR of 0.015 m2, the bomb is designed to overcome dense air defense systems. The warhead is capable of penetrating 90 cm of reinforced concrete, which NATO troops actively used when destroying Iraqi airfield shelters. The GBU-39/B is capable of hitting a mobile target at a range of up to 110 km.
The product, depending on the modification, is equipped with a thermal or radar head.
The F-22's weapons have a slightly longer range due to its supersonic cruising speed. For example, during a test launch of a bomb from an altitude of 15,000 meters, the JDAM hit a mobile target 38 km away, while in a similar test on the F-15 it hit a mobile target 28 km away.
There are 4 suspension points on the wing. They are designed for discreetly mounting weapons or for hanging additional fuel tanks. One suspension point is designed for two anti-aircraft missiles or a 2300 liter tank.
Fuel reserve
The full volume of internal tanks holds only 8 tons of fuel. This is enough to fly 1400 kilometers. This is 30% smaller than the F-15 and reduces its patrol capabilities.
With the use of drop tanks, the range increases to 2,500 kilometers. However, PTB is resorted to only on long-distance flights.
It is not advisable to use tanks during combat missions - the device will already be illuminated by enemy radar at the initial stage and will lose its advantage.
It will be difficult to use the Raptor for long-term patrols. Fuel tankers are the only way out in this situation. However, analogies arise here from the Second World War, when German submarines were destroyed just during refueling.
Operation
The US Air Force operates 180 F-22As. Until 2007, the aircraft was prohibited from being deployed outside the country due to secrecy, and the US Congress imposed a ban on exporting the aircraft abroad, including to NATO allies.
The car has been criticized more than once by the public for its exorbitant maintenance costs. According to the authoritative The Washington Post, the cost of an hour of F-22 flight costs the treasury $40,000, which is one of the highest figures. The main reason for the costs is the frequent replacement of radio-absorbing materials, the wear of which is sometimes caused even by heavy rainfall.
However, the newspaper also notes that the labor intensity of servicing the device is low and is equal to 30 man-hours per flight hour. For comparison, the F-15 has 35, and the Vietnam-era F-104 Starfighter has 50.
During exercises with the participation of the Luftwaffe in Alaska, individual air combat was practiced.
According to Major Grün, who participated in the exercises, the F-22 had incomparable superiority at long distances due to its detection means, but at close ranges the fast “typhoon” more than once seized the initiative. Soon, Pentagon officials argued that close fights were unlikely in practice.
Combat use
The F-22 received its first baptism of fire in Syria in January 2014. Having carried out a couple of targeted strikes on Islamist bases in Raqqa, the plane returned safely to base. As of June 2015, the number of completed tasks exceeded 120.
During one of the 11 hour-long flights, the pilots conducted terrain reconnaissance, carried out a strike mission, carried out target designation, and escorted the bombers, demonstrating in practice the versatility of the aircraft.
Performance characteristics (TTX) in comparison with analogues
| Models | F-22 | Su-57 | F-35B | Su-35 | Eurofighter typhoon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Empty mass | 19700 | 18500 | 14650 | 19000 | 11 000 |
| Combat radius km | 760 | 1400 | 865 | 1350 | 1390 |
| Practical ceiling m | 20 000 | 20 000 | 18 000 | 20 000 | 20 000 |
| Afterburner thrust | 2 x 16785 | 2 × 15000 | 19500 | 2 × 14500 | 2 × 9000 | 10370 | 10000 | 9100 | 8000 | 7500 |
| Maximum speed | 2410 | 2600 | 1930 | 1400 | 2400 |
| Availability of an optical-electronic station | - | + | + | + | - |
| Radar with AFAR | + | + | + | + | + |
Thus, the main disadvantages of the F-22 Raptor over its rivals are its short range and the lack of an optical-electronic guidance station.
Technical problems and incidents
An oxygen production station has become a mandatory attribute of modern aircraft, replacing an oxygen cylinder. Such stations are also available on Raptors and are called OBOGS.
In 2012, the Pentagon imposed restrictions on the flights of vehicles with this system.
The order prohibited flying away from bases, in Alaska, and at altitudes above 7600 meters. According to experts, this is the maximum altitude from which one can return to the ground if the pilot experiences suffocation.
The situation was complicated by the fact that two pilots publicly refused to fly the F-22 due to air problems. The defect claimed lives. During the investigation of the crash of one of the devices in 2010, in Alaska, it turned out that the cause of the disaster was loss of consciousness from suffocation. It also became known that the pilots’ high-pressure suit swelled greatly during overloads, preventing the pilots from breathing normally.
The designers solved the problem by installing a valve that relieves excess pressure in the suit and removing the cleaning filter to increase bandwidth air duct, eliminating the possibility of clogging.
Other unusual incidents also include:
- April 10, 2006. False operation of the cabin lock. After many hours of attempts to open the canopy, with the participation of the manufacturer's employees, it was dismantled using a tool. The cost to replace the light was $200,000.
- February 11, 2007. Crash software navigator when flying to Japan. Associated with the change of date and time in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. The program did not provide a change algorithm, so GPS receivers provided incorrect information. The entire squadron returned to base, after which Lockheed urgently updated the firmware.
- November 16, 2010. Excessive engine overheating and emergency shutdown of the air conditioning and OBOGS system. The pilot did not have time to react, suffocated and crashed. After this incident, emergency oxygen cylinders began to be installed in the cabin.
In popular culture
Despite its young age, the F-22 has become popular. In particular, he appears in:
- Hulk. (2003)
- Transformers. (2007) One of the antagonists transforms into an F-22
- Transformers 2. (2009)
- Fall of Olympus. (2013) Airplanes attack an AC-130 strafing the White House
- Command and Conquer Generals series of games. Is a multifunctional unit.
- In the game Ace Combat: Assault Horizon and in many other flight simulators
The image of an airplane in films is associated with technological perfection, and in computer games you can fly it only after reaching a high rank.
Prospects
Experts have expressed different opinions about the future of the Raptor, but it is clear that the addition of the F-35 Lightning II is attracting more and more attention from the military.
The presence of an electro-optical station with a helmet-mounted target designator, a jamming station, a modern data exchange interface, and compatibility with a wide range of weapons, including tactical atomic bombs, turns the F-35 into an excellent troop support vehicle. In third world countries, drones have long taken on this task.
The F-22 has a different mission. The plane is destined to reign supreme in the sky. He must divert enemy interceptors away from the bombers, reconnoiter the area with a sharp, energetic flight and carry out target designation, carry out targeted strikes on fortifications, in general, everything to ensure the army a landslide victory.
Russia will soon respond by launching the Su-57 into serial production, which means that their meeting in third countries is quite likely.
This will reveal them weaknesses and will give a powerful impetus to the development of aviation. Both cars will be modified more than once to meet the increased requirements of the time. Therefore, the Raptor will guard the skies of its country for many more decades, until it is replaced by new, sixth-generation machines.
Video
Loading...
