F-22 is flying high

According to Wikipedia, “The Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor is an American single-seat, twin-engine, all-weather stealth tactical fighter aircraft developed for the United States Air Force (USAF).

“As the result of the USAF’s Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF) program, the aircraft was designed as an air superiority fighter, but also has ground attack, electronic warfare and signals intelligence capabilities.

“The prime contractor, Lockheed Martin, built most of the F-22’s airframe and weapons systems and conducted final assembly, while Boeing provided the wings, aft fuselage, avionics integration, and training systems.” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_Martin_F-22_Raptor)

FAS Military Analysis Network explains that “the F-22 program is developing the next-generation air superiority fighter for the Air Force to counter emerging worldwide threats. It is designed to penetrate enemy airspace and achieve a first-look, first-kill capability against multiple targets.” (https://man.fas.org/dod-101/sys/ac/f-22.htm)

“The F-22 is characterized by a low-observable, highly maneuverable airframe; advanced integrated avionics; and aerodynamic performance allowing supersonic cruise without afterburner,” the website goes on to say. It explains the superiority of the three things that make this an outstanding fighter plane: stealth, integrated avionics and supercruise.

Due to budget cuts over a decade ago, “the 195th and final F-22 was completed out of eight test EMD and 187 operational aircraft produced; the aircraft was delivered to the USAF on 2 May 2012. (Wikipedia.)