A combination of improved sensor capability, improved situational
awareness and improved weapons provides first-kill opportunity against
threats. The F-22 possesses a sophisticated sensor suite that allows the
pilot to track, identify and shoot the threat before it detects the F-22.
Significant effort is being placed on cockpit design and avionics fusion
to improve the pilot's situational awareness. Advanced avionics
technologies allow the F-22 sensors to gather, integrate and display
essential information in the most useful format to the pilot.
Advances in low-observable technologies
provide significantly improved survivability and lethality against
air-to-air and surface-to-air threats. The F-22's combination of reduced
observability and super cruise accentuate the advantage of surprise in a
tactical environment.
The F-22's engines produce more thrust
than any current fighter engine, especially in military (non-afterburner)
power. Called "super cruise," this characteristic allows the
F-22 to efficiently cruise at supersonic airspeeds without using
afterburners. This capability greatly expands the F-22's operating
envelope in both speed and range over current fighters that must use
afterburner to operate at supersonic speeds.
The F-22 has been extensively
designed, tested and refined aerodynamically during the
demonstration/validation (dem/val) phase and the current Engineering and
Manufacturing Development (EMD) phase. The F-22's sophisticated
aero-design and high thrust-to-weight ratio provide the capability to
outmaneuver all current and projected threat aircraft. To ensure the F-22
provides air dominance for deep-interdiction aircraft, it operates at
medium and high altitude at ranges superior to current generation air
dominance aircraft.
To ensure operational
flexibility, the F-22 has better reliability and maintainability than any
military fighter in history. Increased F-22 reliability and
maintainability pays off in less manpower required to fix the aircraft and
consequently less airlift required to support a deployed squadron.
Additionally, reduced maintenance support provides the benefit of reduced
life-cycle cost and the ability to operate more efficiently from prepared
or dispersed operating locations.
The above characteristics
provide a synergistic effect that ensures F-22 lethality against an
advanced air threat. The combination of reduced observability and super cruise
drastically shrinks surface-to-air engagement envelopes and minimizes
threat capability to engage and shoot the F-22.
The F-22 has a secondary role to
attack surface targets. The aircraft will be capable of carrying two
1,000-pound Joint
Direct Attack Munitions (JDAMs) internally and will use on-board
avionics for navigation and weapons delivery support.
The F-22 will incorporate Pratt & Whitney's new
F119 engine. Designed for efficient supersonic operation without
afterburner use (super cruise), and with increased durability over today's
engines, the F119 is a very high thrust-to-weight ratio engine. Advanced
technologies in the F119 include integrated flight-propulsion controls and
two-dimensional, thrust-vectoring engine nozzles.
The F-22 is capable of carrying existing and planned
air-to-air weapons. These include a full complement of medium-range
missiles such as the AIM-120A advanced medium range air-to-air missile
(AMRAAM), and short-range missiles such as the AIM-9 Sidewinder. The F-22
also will have a modernized version of the proven M61 internal gun and
growth provisions for other weapons. The aircraft also will be capable of
carrying Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAMs) and other ground-attack
weapons.
above taken directly from Boeing
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