Forum: F-22A Raptor

Lightndattic wrote:

aaam wrote:

F-22 can carry four AIM-120 externally, on separate pylons. It can not do that with tanks. The configuration with four AIM-20 and tanks is a ferry configuration, where the Raptor can carry two AIM-120s on the sides of each tank pylon. This is to ferry additional missiles only, the AIM-120 cannot be fired from this mounting, with or without tanks.

The armament sheets I've seen show a 'Non-Stealthy External Combat' configuration of 2 tanks on the inner pylons and 4 missiles on the outer pylons with the 2 missiles per pylon rails shown above. You're saying no external missiles can actually be fired?

No, I was saying that the two missiles mounted on the same pylons as the tanks couldn't be fired. I thought that the dual rail external launcher hadn't survived funding issues, but as we can see from the bottom photo it has, so I stand (well- sit, actually) corrected.

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Last edited by aaam on Sep 30, 2011 - 11:31 PM; edited 1 time in total

As to why the missiles are so far forward one might surmise that it's to avoid the missile affecting the aircraft's control surfaces at launch (look directly aft of the missile on the rail on the wing--imagine if that missile was further aft). Whereas AIM-7 generally was launched with a drop/eject and ignite, AIM-120 can do that, but can also power itself off a rail, ala AIM-9. Given the proximity of the pylon to the aircraft's control surfaces, maybe they needed that bit of extra space for safety at ignition.

Ejection launches do not work well from side pylon stations, rail launches preferred. The force of an ejector unit would easily throw a missile into the fuselage of the aircraft. Additionally, when carrying external stores, one has to assume air superiority has been achieved therefore the lack of stealth is not a major factor.

edpop wrote:

I just picked up Lou Drendels Squadron Signal book on the Raptor. On page 25 it shows all the armament combinations. There is one column for External combat that shows external hardpoints for 4 missiles and 2 fuel tanks. Are there any pictures showing these? I started looking through the photo gallery but nothing has shown up yet. I am sure they did this in the development stage.

Got a copy of the book. The bulk was written in 2009, except for some of the pictures, there's not that much to recommend it. Not much particularly new in it. A good amount is reproduced from or inspired by things put out early in the program, and there are a lot of pictures from the first part of the program. I do note that in just skimming through it, there are a large number of mistakes, especially for work done in 2009. For example, saying the plane that will replace the F-16 is the X-35C, with picture of same, repeatedly referring to the AIM-9M as the latest version of Sidewinder, etc. .

outlaw162 wrote:

Quote:

I have a question to the last picture: why are the missiles installed that far forward?

That puts them closer to the target.

I think it was in Jane's that I read this is also to protect the RAM on the wing to flap joint.
Edit: To protect the RAM from the missiles "exhaust heat". Mist that part.

Such good use of taxes. Keeps the pilot alive. Nice pics none the less.

Have all 4 external pylons been cleared for the Raptor??? At the squadron level I mean.

Forum: F-22A Raptor

Raptor armament pictures