The F-22 Raptor is the end result of a process that started back in the early 1980's with the Advanced Tactical Fighter program. Back then 2 contenders - Lockheed/Boeing/General Dynamics and Northrop/McDonnell Douglas submitted 2 different experimental planes for consideration the
YF-22 &YF-23. Since it is the most badass Superiority fighter in the world, it deserves some cool shots. |
| OVER VIRGINIA -- Lt. Col. James Hecker flies over Fort Monroe before delivering the first operational F-22A Raptor to its permanent home at Langley Air Force Base, Va., on May 12. This is the first of 26 Raptors to be delivered to the 27th Fighter Squadron. The Raptor program is managed by the F-22A System Program Office at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. Colonel Hecker is the squadron's commander. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Ben Bloker) |
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| A KC-10 Extender from Travis Air Force Base, Calif., refuels an F/A-22 Raptor. The Raptor is the replacement for the F-15 Eagle. It is the most advanced fighter aircraft in the world, combining a revolutionary leap in technology and capability with reduced support requirements and maintenance costs. The F/A-22's integrated avionics gives it first-look, first-shot, first-kill capability that guarantees U.S. air dominance for decades. (U.S. Air Force photo by Judson Brohmer) |
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| The Air Force changed the designation of the F/A-22 to the F-22A Raptor. The service designated it "F/A" three years ago to stress the stealth fighter's ability to provide close-air support and drop bombs. The "A" will now designate the variant of the aircraft. The fighter from the 27th Fighter Squadron (above) went to Hill Air Force Base, Utah, this year for live weapons training. The Raptor is scheduled to become operational this month with the 1st Fighter Wing at Langley AFB, Va. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Samuel Rogers) |
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| LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, VA. (AFPN) -- Two F-22A Raptors taxi down the runway. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Ben Bloker) |
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| LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. (AFPN) -- An F-22A Raptor takes off from Langley Air Force Base Jan. 21 during an Operation Noble Eagle mission. This historical event marks the first time the F-22A Raptor is participating in the joint services operation to protect American soil. The Raptor is piloted by Lt. Col. James Hecker, the 27th Fighter Squadron commander. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Samuel Rogers) |
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| LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. -- An F-22A Raptor sits on the flightline during a Phase 1 exercise here Jan. 31. The operational readiness evaluation evaluates the 1st Fighter Wing's ability to prepare and deploy personnel, equipment and support assets to a combat environment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Austin Knox) |
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| An F-22A Raptor from Langley Air Force Base, Va., an F-4 Phantom from Holloman Air Force Base, N.M., an F-16 Fighting Falcon and an A-10 Thunderbolt II fly in diamond formation over Tucson, Ariz., Sunday, March 5, 2006, during the Air Combat Command Heritage Conference at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. Lt. Col. Michael Shower flew the F-22A and Lt. Col. Charles Hainline flew the F-4. Capt. Dax Cornelius, a member of the West Coast Demonstration Team, flew the F-16, and Capt. Jeff Yost of the East Coast Demonstration Team flew the A-10. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Ben Bloker) |
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| Lt. Col. Dirk Smith and Maj. Kevin Dolata move into the Langley Air Force Base pattern Friday, March 3, 2006 to deliver the first F-22A Raptors assigned to the 94th Fighter Squadron. The 94th is the second squadron at Langley to receive the new stealth fighter. Colonel Smith is the squadron commander. Major Dolata is the squadron's assistant director of operations. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Ben Bloker) |
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| An F-22A Raptor refuels during Operation Iron Thunder at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., on July 17. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Jeremy Pretty) |
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| An F-22 Raptor hovers vertically above the Arctic Thunder air show and open house at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, on Aug. 13. The Raptor was flown by Maj. Michael Shower, who will become the first commander of the F-22 squadron at Elmendorf next summer. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman Jonathan Steffen) |
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| An F-22 Raptor from Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., flies over Kill Devil Hills, N.C. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Ben Bloker) |
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| F-22 Raptors will provide strike packages of aircraft better spherical situational awareness when they pull their first Air Expeditionary Force duty in 2007. The 27th Fighter Squadron at Langley Air Force Base, Va., will fly the first Raptors in combat. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Austin Knox) |
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| Lockheed Martin rolls out the first combat-capable F-22 Raptor stealth fighter destined for operations in the Pacific Theater. It will be assigned to Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska. The F-22 dominates any adversary through unmatched performance achieved through stealth, supercruise speed, agility, precision and a complete view of the battlespace achieved with the advanced sensor suite embedded in the aircraft. (Courtesy of LM Photo) |
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| A B-2 Spirit, flanked by two F-22 Raptors, flies over the main parade route during the opening ceremonies of the 118th Rose Parade in Pasadena, Calif., Jan. 1. The aircraft are all from the Air Force Flight Test Center at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. Participating in the Rose Parade is one of the events helping highlight the Air Force's 60th anniversary in September. (U.S. Air Force photo/Lt. Col. Sandy Burr) |
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| F-22 Raptors are parked on the flightline during Red Flag 07-02 Feb. 6 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. Red Flag sharpens aircrews' warfighting skills in realistic combat situations. The aircraft from 94th Fighter Squadron of Langley Air Force Base in Virginia will be flying missions during the day and night to the nearby Nevada Test and Training Range where they will simulate an air war. The Air Force and Navy, along with military forces from Australia and the United Kingdom, are participating in Red Flag. This is the first deployment to Red Flag for the 94th FS with F-22. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master. Sgt. Kevin J. Gruenwald) |
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| An F-22 Raptor participates in a Red Flag exercise Feb. 7 over Nevada. Red Flag is an exercise designed to hone the warfighting skills of Air Force pilots. (U.S. Air Force photo/1st Lt. Randi Norton) |
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| F-22 Raptors sit on the flight line at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii Feb. 12. The fighters and more than 250 Airmen from the 27th Fighter Squadron at Langley Air Force Base, Va., are bound for Kadena Air Base, Japan. This is the Raptor's first overseas operational deployment. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Tech. Sgt. Shane A. Cuomo) |
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| The F-22 Raptor performs for thousands during an April 1 air show at Naval Base Ventura County in Point Mugu, Calif. This F-22 is based at Langley Air Force Base, Va. The F-22 is the Air Force's newest fighter aircraft. The sophisticated F-22 aerodesign, advanced flight controls, thrust vectoring, and high thrust-to-weight ratio provide the capability to outmaneuver all current and projected aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech Sgt Justin D. Pyle) |
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| An F-22 Raptor from Langley Air Force Base, Va., performs for thousands during an April 1 air show at Naval Base Ventura County in Point Mugu, Calif. The F-22 is the Air Force's newest fighter aircraft. Its combination of stealth, supercruise, maneuverability, and integrated avionics, coupled with improved supportability, represents an exponential leap in warfighting capabilities. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Justin D. Pyle) |
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| The Virginia Air National Guard's 192nd Fighter Wing is the first Air National Guard unit in the country to fly the F-22 Raptor. The transition from the F-16 Fighting Falcon to the F-22 took place June 20. (U.S. Air Force photo) |
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| F-22A Raptor Demonstration Team aircraft maintainers prepare to launch out Maj. Paul "Max" Moga, the first F-22A Raptor demonstration team pilot, July 13. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Christopher L. Ingersoll) |
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| Maj. Paul "Max" Moga, the first F-22A Raptor Demonstration Team Pilot, does a high-speed pass with his bomb bay doors open during an aircraft demonstration July 13. (U. S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Samuel Rogers) |
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| The F-22A Raptor takes off with afterburners during a demonstration Aug. 20 at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska. The demo was the closing event of the 90th Fighter Squadron's 90th anniversary. The aircraft was flown by Maj. Paul Moga, the Air Force's sole F-22 demonstration pilot. He is assigned to the 1st Operations Group at Langley AFB, Va. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Garrett Hothan) |
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| A 90th Aircraft Maintenance Unit crew chief signal an F-22A Raptor laden with concrete bombs to begin its departure for a training mission. For the first time at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, a mock bomb drop over Alaska, Jan. 16, provides integral training for both fighters and maintainers in preparation to declare its initial operation capabilities. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Garrett Hothan) |
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| An F-22 Raptor refuels behind a KC-10 Extender April 17 while at 26,000 feet above Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. The F-22 is assigned to Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Airman 1st Class Jonathan Snyder) |
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| Col. Jeff Harrigian, 49th Fighter Wing commander, and Lt. Col. Mike Hernandez, 7th Fighter Squadron commander, fly F-22 Raptors June 2 over White Sands National Monument on the way to their home base, Holloman Air Force Base, N.M. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Russell Scalf) |
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| A three-ship formation of F-22 Raptors flies over the Pacific Ocean Jan. 28 as part of a deployment to Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. The Raptors are deployed from Elmendorf AFB, Alaska. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Kevin J. Gruenwald) |
And to finish off, a picture of The Chengdu J-20, China's F-22 copy
