by Gary Wollenhaupt

Created on: February 11, 2009

The F/A-22 Raptor is the world's first stealth air-to-air fighter, designed to be unseen at long range and deadly in close-in air combat. It can also strike ground targets with precision accuracy. Its design gives pilots unmatched maneuverability in the air.

The F/A-22 was originally designed to replace the F-15 Eagle. Because of the Eagle's versatility, the rising cost of developing the F/A-22 and the changing world scene, the Raptor now supplements the F-15 instead of replacing it. When the F/A-22 program began in the early 1980s, the Air Force wanted a fighter to counter the threat from the Soviet Union. Since the end of the Cold War, the need for an air-superiority fighter has fallen: Pentagon war planners expect future conflicts to be fought against enemies with small air forces or none at all.

F/A-22 Specifications:

Primary Function: Fighter, air-dominance

Wingspan: 44 feet 6 inches (13.5 meters)

Length: 62 feet 1 inch (18.9 meters)

Height: 16 feet 5 inches (5 meters)

Powerplant: Two Pratt & Whitney F119-PW-100 engines capable of supercruise and thrust vectoring

Speed: Mach 1.8 (supercruise: Mach 1.5)

The F/A-22 incorporates all the lessons learned from previous aircraft. It is so stealthy that it appears to be the size of a bumblebee when detected by radar.

The angular shape of the F/A-22 is similar to the F-117 Stealth Fighter. These curves scatter radar beams in all directions instead of back to the radar source. There are no right angles at all on the outside of the plane. Sawtooth edges on cockpit edges, landing gear doors and other openings also break up radar.

Unlike current fighters, the F/A-22 can carry missiles inside the fuselage. Earlier fighters carry missiles under the wings, which reflect radar waves and make the plane much more visible.

The F/A-22 is the first American fighter aircraft with the ability to supercruise, or fly at supersonic speeds without using the afterburner. It can reach Mach 1.8 using the afterburner.

The Raptor is powered by two Pratt & Whitney F119-PW-100 engines that generate 35,000 pounds of thrust each (compare that to the 25,000-29,000 pounds of thrust for each engine on an F-15). These engines allow the Raptor to cruise at supersonic speeds with less fuel consumption than any other aircraft. It can stay in an area looking for enemy targets longer or carry a bigger bomb load because it does not have to carry as much fuel.

The Raptor also utilizes thrust vectoring, similar to the Harrier jump jet. A nozzle directs the

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