Editing Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor (section)

{{Short description|American stealth air superiority fighter}}
{{Redirect|F22}}
{{Good article}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2023}}
{{Use American English|date = July 2019}}
<!-- This article is a part of [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft]]. Please see [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft/page content]] for recommended layout, and guidelines. -->
{{Infobox aircraft
 |name = F-22 Raptor
 |image = F-22 Raptor edit1 (cropped).jpg
 |caption = An F-22 over [[Kadena Air Base]], Japan, in 2009
 |alt = F-22 Raptor flies over Kadena Air Base, Japan on a flight training mission in 2009
 |type = [[Air superiority fighter]]
 |national_origin = United States
 |manufacturer = {{ubl|[[Lockheed Martin Aeronautics]]|[[Boeing Defense, Space & Security|Boeing Integrated Defense Systems]]<!-- Boeing is a partner, not a subcontractor-->}}
 |first_flight = {{Start date and age|1997|09|07|df=yes|br=yes}}
 |introduction = 15 December 2005
 |status = In service
 |retired = 
 |primary_user = [[United States Air Force]]
 |more_users = 
 |produced = 1996–2011
 |number_built = 195 (8 test and 187 operational aircraft)<ref group=N name="EMD"/><ref name= combataircraft>Parsons, Gary. [http://www.combataircraft.net/view_article.asp?ID=4994 "Final F-22 Delivered"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313044134/http://www.combataircraft.net/view_article.asp?id=4994 |date=13 March 2016}} ''Combat Aircraft Monthly'', 3 May 2012. Retrieved 10 April 2014.</ref>
 |developed_from = [[Lockheed YF-22]]
 |variants = 
 |developed_into = {{ubl|[[Lockheed Martin X-44 MANTA]]|[[Lockheed Martin FB-22]]}}
}}

The '''Lockheed Martin/Boeing F-22 Raptor''' is an American [[Twinjet|twin-engine]], [[Jet engine|jet-powered]], [[Night fighter|all-weather]], [[supersonic]] [[Stealth aircraft|stealth]] [[fighter aircraft]]. As a product of the [[United States Air Force]]'s [[Advanced Tactical Fighter]] (ATF) program, the aircraft was designed as an [[air superiority fighter]], but also incorporates [[attack aircraft|ground attack]], [[electronic-warfare aircraft|electronic warfare]], and [[signals intelligence]] capabilities. The prime contractor, [[Lockheed Martin Aeronautics|Lockheed Martin]], built most of the F-22 airframe and weapons systems and conducted final assembly, while program partner [[Boeing Defense, Space & Security|Boeing]] provided the wings, [[aft]] fuselage, [[avionics]] integration, and training systems.

First flown in 1997, the F-22 descended from the [[Lockheed YF-22]] and was variously designated '''F-22''' and '''F/A-22''' before it formally entered service in December 2005 as the '''F-22A'''. Although the U.S. Air Force (USAF) had originally planned to buy a total of 750 ATFs to replace its [[McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle|F-15 Eagle]]s, it later scaled down to 381, and the program was ultimately cut to 195 aircraft – 187 of them operational models – in 2009 due to political opposition from high costs, a perceived lack of air-to-air threats at the time of production, and the development of the more affordable and versatile [[Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II|F-35]].{{refn|Referring to statements made by the Secretary of Defense Robert Gates: "The secretary once again highlighted his ambitious next-year request for the more-versatile F-35s."<ref>{{cite web |last=Baron |first=Kevin |url=http://www.stripes.com/news/gates-outlines-air-force-priorities-and-expectations-1.94837 |title=Gates outlines Air Force priorities and expectations |work=Stars and Stripes |date=16 September 2009 |access-date=30 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131031171947/http://www.stripes.com/news/gates-outlines-air-force-priorities-and-expectations-1.94837 |archive-date=31 October 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref>|group=N}} The last aircraft was delivered in 2012.

The F-22 is a critical component of the USAF's high-end tactical airpower. While it had a protracted development and initial operational difficulties, the aircraft became the service's leading counter-air platform against peer adversaries. Although designed for air superiority operations, the F-22 has also performed strike and electronic surveillance, including missions in the [[Middle East]] against the [[Islamic State]] and [[Al-Assad family|Assad]]-aligned forces. The F-22 is expected to remain a cornerstone of the USAF's fighter fleet until its succession by the [[Boeing F-47]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Trimble |first=Steve |date=March 21, 2025 |title=Boeing Wins U.S. Air Force's NGAD F-47 Fighter Contract |url=https://aviationweek.com/defense/aircraft-propulsion/boeing-wins-us-air-forces-ngad-f-47-fighter-contract |access-date=March 21, 2025 |website=[[Aviation Week & Space Technology]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Epstein |first=Jake |date=March 21, 2025 |title=First US sixth-gen fighter jet will be the F-47, Trump says, and Boeing, not Lockheed, is going to build it |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/boeing-wins-air-force-next-generation-air-dominance-fighter-contract-2025-3 |access-date=March 21, 2025 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US}}</ref>