The secrets of the F 22 Raptor

7 min readJan 31, 2024

The F 22 Raptor is one of the most formidable aircraft of its time. Developed by Lockheed-Martin as a fifth-generation air superiority fighter, it can simultaneously engage multiple targets beyond visual range, without being detected by enemy radars. It can also perform ground strikes, as it demonstrated in its first combat engagement in Syria in 2014.

But what makes the F 22 Raptor so special? What are the technologies and innovations that give it its stealth, agility, speed and versatility? This is what we will explore in this blog post, based on a detailed article published in the French magazine Planète Aéro.

Stealth

The F 22 Raptor is designed to have a very low radar cross-section (RCS), which means that it reflects very little radar waves and appears as a small or even invisible target on enemy screens. To achieve this, the F 22 Raptor uses several techniques, such as:

Shape: The F 22 Raptor has a diamond-shaped nose and sharp edges that deflect radar waves away from the source. It also has aligned engine nozzles and wing edges that reduce the number of angles that can reflect radar waves back to the source.
Materials: The F 22 Raptor is covered with radar-absorbent materials (RAM) that absorb or scatter radar waves and reduce the RCS. The RAM are applied as paints, coatings or tapes on the surface of the aircraft.
Antennas: The F 22 Raptor integrates the antennas of its electronic warfare system ALR94 into its skin, which can detect, identify and locate discreetly all the threats within a radius of several hundred kilometers around the aircraft. The antennas are also covered with RAM to avoid being detected by enemy radars.
Infrared signature: The F 22 Raptor has a very low infrared signature, which means that it emits very little heat and is hard to track by infrared sensors or missiles. To achieve this, the F 22 Raptor has a special system that stores the heat generated by the engines and the electronics during the operation, and releases it once out of range of the enemy sensors and missiles. The F 22 Raptor also has a vectored thrust nozzle that reduces the infrared signature of the exhaust plume.

Agility

The F 22 Raptor is designed to have a very high maneuverability, which means that it can change direction, speed and altitude quickly and easily. To achieve this, the F 22 Raptor uses several techniques, such as:

Thrust vectoring: The F 22 Raptor has two Pratt & Whitney F119-PW-100 engines that can produce a thrust of 156 kN each, and can be directed up or down by 20 degrees. This allows the F 22 Raptor to perform extreme maneuvers, such as the cobra, the kulbit or the J-turn, that give it an advantage in dogfights.
Supercruise: The F 22 Raptor can fly at supersonic speeds (above Mach 1.5) without using afterburners, which consume a lot of fuel and increase the infrared signature. This allows the F 22 Raptor to have a longer range, a faster response time and a better stealth than other fighters that need afterburners to fly at supersonic speeds.
Flight control system: The F 22 Raptor has a sophisticated flight control system that integrates the inputs from the pilot, the sensors, the engines and the aerodynamic surfaces to optimize the performance and the stability of the aircraft. The flight control system also has a relaxed static stability, which means that the F 22 Raptor is intentionally unstable and needs constant corrections from the computer to fly. This gives the F 22 Raptor a higher responsiveness and a lower drag than a stable aircraft.

Speed

The F 22 Raptor is designed to have a very high speed, which means that it can fly faster than the sound and outrun most of the enemy aircraft and missiles. To achieve this, the F 22 Raptor uses several techniques, such as:

Engines: The F 22 Raptor has two Pratt & Whitney F119-PW-100 engines that can produce a thrust of 156 kN each, and can be boosted to 178 kN with afterburners. The engines are also equipped with variable geometry inlets that adjust the airflow to the engines according to the speed and the altitude of the aircraft. The engines can propel the F 22 Raptor to a maximum speed of Mach 2.25 (2,410 km/h) at high altitude, and Mach 1.82 (1,963 km/h) at low altitude.
Aerodynamics: The F 22 Raptor has a sleek and streamlined shape that reduces the drag and the resistance of the air. It also has a high wing loading, which means that it has a large wing area relative to its weight, and a high thrust-to-weight ratio, which means that it has a large engine power relative to its weight. These factors allow the F 22 Raptor to have a high acceleration and a high climb rate.
Fuel: The F 22 Raptor has a large internal fuel capacity of 8,200 kg, which gives it a long range and a long endurance. The F 22 Raptor can also be refueled in flight by aerial tankers, which extend its operational radius and its mission time. The F 22 Raptor does not have external fuel tanks, which would increase the drag and the RCS of the aircraft.

Versatility

The F 22 Raptor is designed to have a high versatility, which means that it can perform different types of missions, such as air-to-air, air-to-ground, air-to-sea, reconnaissance, electronic warfare and command and control. To achieve this, the F 22 Raptor uses several techniques, such as:

Weapons: The F 22 Raptor has a large internal weapons bay that can carry up to six air-to-air missiles, such as the AIM-120 AMRAAM or the AIM-9 Sidewinder, or two air-to-ground bombs, such as the GBU-32 JDAM or the GBU-39 SDB. The F 22 Raptor also has a 20 mm M61A2 Vulcan cannon with 480 rounds for close combat. The F 22 Raptor can also carry external weapons on four hardpoints under the wings, but this would reduce its stealth and its performance. The F 22 Raptor can engage multiple targets simultaneously with its advanced fire control system and its helmet-mounted display.

Sensors: The F 22 Raptor has a powerful and integrated sensor suite that gives it a situational awareness and a target acquisition superior to other fighters. The sensor suite includes:

AN/APG-77 radar: A low-probability-of-intercept (LPI) active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar that can detect and track air and ground targets at long range, and provide high-resolution synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images for mapping and targeting.
AN/AAR-56 missile launch detector (MLD): A passive infrared sensor that can detect and track incoming missiles and provide warning and countermeasures to the pilot.
AN/ALR-94 electronic warfare system: A passive radio frequency sensor that can detect, identify and locate enemy radars and communications, and provide jamming and deception to the enemy.
AN/AAS-42 infrared search and track (IRST) system: A passive infrared sensor that can detect and track air and ground targets at long range, especially stealthy or low-RCS targets, without emitting any signal that could reveal the position of the F 22 Raptor.
AN/AVS-9 night vision goggles (NVG): A device that amplifies the ambient light and allows the pilot to see in the dark.

Communication: The F 22 Raptor has a secure and stealthy communication system that allows it to exchange information with other F 22 Raptors, other friendly aircraft, ground stations and satellites, without being detected or jammed by the enemy. The communication system includes:

Intra-Flight Data Link (IFDL): A high-speed, low-probability-of-detection (LPD) data link that allows the F 22 Raptor to share data, such as radar images, target coordinates, threat information and situational awareness, with other F 22 Raptors in a network-centric warfare (NCW) concept.
Multifunction Advanced Data Link (MADL): A high-speed, low-probability-of-intercept (LPI) data link that allows the F 22 Raptor to share data with other fifth-generation aircraft, such as the F 35 Lightning II.
Common Data Link (CDL): A high-speed, high-capacity data link that allows the F 22 Raptor to share data with other platforms, such as AWACS, JSTARS, satellites, etc.
Link 16: A standard NATO data link that allows the F 22 Raptor to share data with other fourth-generation aircraft and legacy platforms, such as the F 15 Eagle, the F 16 Fighting Falcon, the F 18 Hornet, etc.

Conclusion

The F 22 Raptor is a remarkable aircraft that combines stealth, agility, speed and versatility to achieve air dominance and perform various missions. It is a remarkable aircraft that combines stealth, agility, speed and versatility to achieve air dominance and perform various missions. It is the result of decades of research and development, and a testament to the technological prowess and the strategic vision of the United States. However, the F 22 Raptor is not without flaws and challenges. It is a very expensive and complex aircraft, which requires a lot of maintenance and support. It also faces some technical issues, such as oxygen supply problems, software glitches and corrosion. Moreover, the F 22 Raptor is limited by the number of units produced (only 187 operational aircraft) and the export ban imposed by the US Congress, which prevents it from being sold to other countries. Therefore, the F 22 Raptor may soon be surpassed by newer and cheaper fifth-generation fighters, such as the F 35 Lightning II, the Su 57 Felon, the J 20 Mighty Dragon or the Rafale F4, which are being developed and deployed by other nations.

If you have any comments, questions or suggestions, please feel free to leave them below. Thank you for your attention and see you next time. 😊