F-22 Raptor: 20 Years of Air Dominance

[Scorpion1alpha]

For those that haven't heard, Key Publications has just published a special issue celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the F-22 Raptor (since Raptor 4001, the 1st EMD jet). The special 100 page issue is titled "F-22 Raptor: 20 Years of Air Dominance" and is available now.

http://shop.keypublishing.com/product/V ... 2%20Raptor

I haven't seen the issue yet, but I'm hoping they do justice and give a glimpse as to why the F-22, in it's current form, remains the most dominant production fighter ever built. And its just going to get even better and more lethal in the near future.

*Note. I'm not getting any compensation or perks of any kind from anyone for mentioning this. Just a heads-up to those that are interested.*

[outlaw162]

There's been nothing in the air to dominate for 20 years....other than an obsolete SU-22.

20 years of watching F-16s and F-18s do the work.

[viper12]

I received the issue yesterday and finished reading it. IMO, it's more centralizing the information than really showing anything new if one has been following the F-22 program with more or less attention for the past 20 years.

[mixelflick]

There's been nothing in the air to dominate for 20 years....other than an obsolete SU-22.

20 years of watching F-16s and F-18s do the work.

I see what you did there

But if you talk to F-22 pilots, they see it quite differently. Just the mention of an F-22 in theater changes the game. Russia may have SU-35's cruising the Syrian skies, but I have to imagine those Flanker pilots do so with much trepidation. It has to be incredibly un-nerving knowing Raptors are in the air. They can see you, you can't see them.

In that respect, I predict it will mirror US Navy F-14's. A few minor altercations here or there, but most are going to stay FAR away from the F-22. Sometimes, a plane's value lies in it deterring vs. winning conflicts..

[outlaw162]

just having a friendly poke at it....unfortunately i think it will get its shot so to speak someday

[outlaw162]

Sometimes, a plane's value lies in it deterring vs. winning conflicts..

Maybe they should revive the old SAC motto for ACC....

"Peace is Our Profession"

[XanderCrews]

Sometimes, a plane's value lies in it deterring vs. winning conflicts..

Maybe they should revive the old SAC motto for ACC....

"Peace is Our Profession"

I actually do think you could term the F-22 A "strategic fighter" maybe more so because of their expense and limited number, but the effect they have on the region is noticeable. Move a doze. Here or there and watch the situation change

[outlaw162]

Yeh, I saw that on a sign in front of Burpelson AFB.

[mixelflick]

I sure hope they have something up their sleeves beyond the AIM-120D.

The AMRAAM is a good missile. But it's been around since the early 90's. It's known, its strengths and weaknesses are known. Our fighters live and die by AMRAAM, and the F-22 is no exception. Figure out how to defeat the AMRAAM and you've made it to the merge. In the merge, the F-22 is exceptional but a lot more vulnerable vs. BVR.

I've heard of CUDA and other possibilities, but as for what's deployed and operational - do we have ANYTHING else?

[wrightwing]

I sure hope they have something up their sleeves beyond the AIM-120D.

The AMRAAM is a good missile. But it's been around since the early 90's. It's known, its strengths and weaknesses are known. Our fighters live and die by AMRAAM, and the F-22 is no exception. Figure out how to defeat the AMRAAM and you've made it to the merge. In the merge, the F-22 is exceptional but a lot more vulnerable vs. BVR.

I've heard of CUDA and other possibilities, but as for what's deployed and operational - do we have ANYTHING else?

The AIM-120D hasn't been around since the early 90s, nor are it and its strengths/weaknesses known. It shares little in common with early model AMRAAMs, aside from the missile body. The same goes for the AIM-9X Block 2, Standard Missile series, etc..... Their current capabilities far exceed far exceed the imaginations of their developers in the 50s/60s. That's not to say that in the 2020s/30s, that newer more capable AAMs won't be in service, but -120Ds are in no danger of obsolescence.

[twistedneck]

The AIM-120D hasn't been around since the early 90s, nor are it and its strengths/weaknesses known. It shares little in common with early model AMRAAMs, aside from the missile body. The same goes for the AIM-9X Block 2, Standard Missile series, etc..... Their current capabilities far exceed far exceed the imaginations of their developers in the 50s/60s. That's not to say that in the 2020s/30s, that newer more capable AAMs won't be in service, but -120Ds are in no danger of obsolescence.

wrightwing, you are surely correct about the advancement of our old AMRAM into the much more capable AIM120D.. but along these same lines the other great A/A missile for close range is the AIM 9X and over Syria recently a SH fired at a Fitter from point blank range 1.5miles and the Fitter easily spoofed the vaunted AIM 9X.

That is not saying much for the most advanced IR seeker missile in the US inventory.

[wrightwing]

The AIM-120D hasn't been around since the early 90s, nor are it and its strengths/weaknesses known. It shares little in common with early model AMRAAMs, aside from the missile body. The same goes for the AIM-9X Block 2, Standard Missile series, etc..... Their current capabilities far exceed far exceed the imaginations of their developers in the 50s/60s. That's not to say that in the 2020s/30s, that newer more capable AAMs won't be in service, but -120Ds are in no danger of obsolescence.

wrightwing, you are surely correct about the advancement of our old AMRAM into the much more capable AIM120D.. but along these same lines the other great A/A missile for close range is the AIM 9X and over Syria recently a SH fired at a Fitter from point blank range 1.5miles and the Fitter easily spoofed the vaunted AIM 9X.

That is not saying much for the most advanced IR seeker missile in the US inventory.

Actually, the circumstances of the miss haven't been publicly discussed. No official source has stated that the AIM-9X was spoofed into missing. Were I a Fitter pilot, I wouldn't count on that happening again, in any future engagement. As for the AIM-120D, not only does it have significant range and ECCM improvements over early models, but enhanced navigational algorithms, and redundancy in guidance (active seeker, 2 way datalink, GPS, INS, and HOJ.) There's a lot more in the kill chain, that needs to be countered, to spoof a -120D

[charlielima223]

Actually, the circumstances of the miss haven't been publicly discussed. No official source has stated that the AIM-9X was spoofed into missing. Were I a Fitter pilot, I wouldn't count on that happening again, in any future engagement. As for the AIM-120D, not only does it have significant range and ECCM improvements over early models, but enhanced navigational algorithms, and redundancy in guidance (active seeker, 2 way datalink, GPS, INS, and HOJ.) There's a lot more in the kill chain, that needs to be countered, to spoof a -120D

(time index 5:10)


It would seem according to the pilot, the Sidewinder didn't even do anything after it went off the rails.

[Scorpion1alpha]

New DVD by Key Publishing: "F-22 Raptor - Air Dominance" to coincide with it's 20th Anniversary.

http://shop.keypublishing.com/product/V ... 0Dominance

[charlielima223]

Didn't really know where to put this. While we all talk about the aircraft its self, its good to know the story behind the aircraft and the people who fly and maintain it.