Moreover the Raptor’s ability to launch its weapons at roll rates up to 100 degrees per second has been a groundbreaking requirement made even tougher by tight clearances and flow fields that result from internal carriage. For instance the limited space drove the configuration of the launchers and acoustic suppression devices. Noteworthy the F-22 is designed around its internal bays, which are essential for the aircraft stealthy design.Īctually, as reported by, several issues were encountered during the development of the weapon bays. Instead, to perform the air-to-ground mission the F-22 carries two 1,000 pound-class GBU-32 (or two 250-pound GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb in place of two AIM-120) Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM), two AIM-120 (in the main weapon bays) and two AIM-9 missiles (in the side weapon bays).

In fact, not even the huskier F-35 can manage supersonic speeds without dumping fuel into.

To perform its primary air-to-air role, the Raptor carries two AIM-9 Sidewinder infrared (heat seeking) air-to-air missiles in the side weapon bays and six AIM-120 AMRAAM radar-guided air-to-air missiles in the main weapon bays. The F-22 Raptor is both a beauty and a technological marvel. It uses stealth, which means it cannot be seen on radar. Taken on May 20-21 by Teddy Techer, an aviation expert and a reader of The Aviation Geek Club during Wings Over Wayne Air Show at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base (AFB), the cool photo in this post gives us the chance to admire an F-22 Raptor performing a fly-by with its weapon bays doors open. The F-22 Raptor is a fighter plane made by Lockheed Martin.It first flew in 1990, and entered service in the United States Air Force in 2005.Because it is expensive, there will not be as many of them as earlier fighter planes. The F-22 Raptor is able to launch its weapons at roll rates up to 100 degrees per second An F-22 Raptor Would Dominate A Dogfight With An F-35.

F 22 raptor facts