Harrier landing on aircraft carrier.

Dumb Jet Pilot Lifts Landing Gear Too Soon – Watch more Funny Videos

The Lockheed Martin/Boeing F-22 Raptor is a single seat, twin-engine fifth-generation fighter aircraft that uses stealth technology. It was designed primarily as an air superiority fighter, but has additional capabilities that include ground attack, electronic warfare, and signals intelligence roles. Lockheed Martin Aeronautics is the prime contractor and is responsible for the majority of the airframe, weapon systems and final assembly of the F-22. Program partner Boeing Defense, Space & Security provides the wings, aft fuselage, avionics integration, and all of the pilot and maintenance training systems.

The aircraft was variously designated F-22 and F/A-22 during the years prior to formally entering USAF service in December 2005 as the F-22A. Despite a protracted and costly development period, the United States Air Force considers the F-22 a critical component for the future of US tactical air power, and claims that the aircraft is unmatched by any known or projected fighter, while Lockheed Martin claims that the Raptor’s combination of stealth, speed, agility, precision and situational awareness, combined with air-to-air and air-to-ground combat capabilities, makes it the best overall fighter in the world today. Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, Chief of the Australian Defence Force, said in 2004 that the “F-22 will be the most outstanding fighter plane ever built.”

The high cost of the aircraft, a lack of a clear air to air combat missions because of the lengthy delays in the Russian and Chinese fifth generation fighter programs, a US ban on Raptor exports, and the development of the cheaper and more versatile F-35 resulted in calls to end F-22 production. In April 2009 the US Department of Defense proposed to cease placing new orders, subject to Congressional approval, for a final procurement tally of 187 Raptors. The US Senate and House each passed 2010 budget bill versions without F-22 production funding in July 2009. Congress worked to combine these versions into one bill, and President Obama signed the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 in October 2009, without funding for F-22 production.

Music: The Chemical Brothers – Block Rockin’ Beats.

Country of Origin France
Builder team :
Dassault Aviation, SNECMA, Thomson-CSF

Role Mirage F1 CT – Close Air Support (CAS) / attack / fighter
Mirage F1 CR – Tactical reconnaissance / fighter

First flight :
November 1981
1992 for the new weapons system (F1 CT version)

In-service in French Air Force :
1983

Similar Aircraft Super Etendard
Mitsubishi F-1
AV-8B Harrier II
Fantan A

Crew one
trainer–two

Length 49 ft (14.94 m) 15.33 m
Span 27 ft, 7 in (8.4 m)
Height :
4.50 m

Weight
8.1 t empty
15.2 t maximum at takeoff

Power plant / Thrust :
SNECMA Atar 9K50 jet engine / 4.7 t and 6.8 t with afterburner

Ceiling 52,000 ft [20,000 meters ?]
Maximum speed :
Mach 2.2

Cruise range 1160 nm
In-Flight Refueling Y
Internal Fuel 3435 kg
Fuel capacity :
4,100 l internal / 6,400 l maximal / In-flight refuelling

Payload 6300 kg

The Yak-38 Forger

Originally known as the Yak-36MP in the West, the Yak-38 was the first production vertical takeoff/landing aircraft built by the Soviet Union. Similar to the British Harrier, the Yak-38 was built to operate from the Soviet medium-sized Kiev class aircraft carriers. It was due to be replaced by the advanced Yak-141 until government funding for that project was cancelled. A total of about 230 aircraft were built.

Yak-141 Freestyle

Developed to replace the Yak-38 for Soviet aircraft carrier use, the Yak-41 (later redesignated Yak-141) was the world’s first supersonic vertical/short-takeoff and landing aircraft. Though a very advanced and capable design, Yakovlev has been frustrated by shrinking funding from the Russian government and has sought international partners to continue development of the design. Yakovlev engineers have also been consulted by Lockheed in designing its V/STOL version of the Joint Strike Fighter.

F-35 Engine Ducts Swivel and VT by Scribbleuk

Military War Videos: NAVY Carrier Landing Video by MilitaryWarVideos