In 1990, the Lockheed Martin and Boeing came up with a prototype, the YF-22. By 1997, its official production model, the F/A 22, was unveiled. It was the successor to the ageing F-15 Eagle. Dominating the skies, this fighter plane puts all others to shame. It is the perfect union of stealth design and the supersonic, highly maneuverable, long range requirements of an air-to-air fighter. Also, the F-22’s integrated avionics promise that first look, first shot, first kill capability which will guarantee air dominance, at least for the next forty years.

Cutting-edge technologies engaged by the F-22 include advanced navigation and combat facilities. For example, the cockpit is fitted with HOTAS (Hands-On Throttle and Stick control) which allows the pilot to fly the plane without removing his hands from the flight controls. The HUD (Head-Up Display) projects essential information in front of the pilot’s view. The pilot can even input information for communications, auto piloting and navigation in the ICP (Integrated Control Panel), allowing him to concentrate on taking the target out.

The F-22 is also equipped with Integrated Weapons & Defense Systems. An F-22 can carry a wide range of weapons such as the AIM-120C and AIM-9 missiles, M61 internal gun and also JDAMs. In addition, the F-22 is also the first and only all-weather stealth fighter. It utilizes a combination of different methods to prevent probing radar waves from bouncing back to their origin, such as continuous curves, radar absorbent materials, saw-toothed edges, engine nozzles as well as a special paint scheme. Weapons are also stored internally to prevent radar detection. With all this, the F-22 is virtually invisible to radar.

The average jet fighter can only use its afterburners for a short period of time, due to the large amount of fuel consumption. However, the F-22 can maintain supersonic speed throughout the course of the entire mission! The secret lies in its two Pratt & Whitney’s F119 engines which allow the F-22 to super cruise, meaning that it can sustain speeds of Mach 1.5 without the use of afterburners. The two engines also make the plane super maneuverable, allowing it to thrust vector and sustain deep stalls which no normal fighters can achieve.

The only drawback is that the F-22 comes at a heavy price of about US$120 million a plane. In stark contrast, an F-16 costs around US$15 million. The US plans to order 339 F-22s, and the production is scheduled to run through to 2013.