F-22 Raptor

The Lockheed Martin YF-22 won the Air Force's Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF) contest over the Northrop YF-23 in April 1991. In 1983 the Air Force had issued a request for proposals for the ATF program, which were based on a study on new fighter concepts. The F-22 program is developing the next-generation air superiority fighter for the United States Air Force to ensure it retains it's air dominance and can counter emerging worldwide threats.
Two prototypes of both the YF-22 and YF-23 were constructed, one demonstrator of each aircraft being powered by Pratt & Whitney F119 and the other by the General Electric F120 turbofan engine, allowing the Air Force to select the best airframe/propulsion arrangement.
The second YF-22 prototype, fitted with the Pratt & Whitney engines, demonstrated the ability to cruise at Mach 1.58 without afterburner and Mach 1.7 with afterburner.
This combination was deemed the most desirable and both Lockheed and Pratt & Whitney were issued contracts to proceed with production. The first F-22 fighter aircraft was unveiled in April 1997 and was given the name Raptor.

The end of the Cold War greatly reduced the perceived military threat faced by the United States, therefore the House Appropriations Committee recommended termination of the F-22, based in part on concerns over cost growth and unrealistic budgeting.
The Air Force told the Committee that development of the then called ATF would cost around $14 billion, already 900 million dollars more than estimates provided half a year earlier.
In the years that followed the costs continued to rise, and was estimated at $23 billion in 1999.

Dispite the cost overruns and cuts in the total number of aircraft that will be purchased, the F-22A Raptor achieved Initial Operational Capability, and passed its 'mission capable' flight test in mid-January 2006.

In late-February Gen. Ronald Keys, commander of Air Combat Command (ACC), revised plans to procure a fleet of 183 Raptors, and will give the service about 126 combat-ready jets.

The Raptor's twin Pratt & Whitney F119-PW-100 engines are leading-edge powerplants. The F-119's ability to provide supersonic cruise without afterburner provides the F/A-22 with one of its most important capabilities, with supercruise at Mach 1.5+ demonstrated in flight tests. It has a high power-to-weight ratio (PWR) of 1.4:1, and can deliver 156 kN (15,900 kgp / 35,000 lbf) afterburning thrust. The F119 has a minimized parts count and has been designed for maintainability. Important components, harnesses, and plumbing were placed on the bottom of the engine to improve ground crew access, and all components can be removed or replaced with one of six standard tools. The digital engine control modules are redundant, with two controllers per engine and two computers per controller, to improve reliability.

The F/A-22 is constructed of titanium alloys (39% by weight); composites (24%); aircraft aluminum alloy (16%); and thermoplastics (1%). Advanced titanium welding techniques and composite fabrication are used in the aircraft's construction. "Radar absorbent material (RAM)" is used in critical locations to reduce the aircraft's radar signature, and the aircraft's contours are intended to make it less conspicuous to radar. Apertures, such as weapons bay and landing gear doors, have zigzag edges to break up radar returns. A overall coating reduces the aircraft's infrared signature as well. While older stealth aircraft require substantial maintenance, careful handling, and protection from weather to keep them stealthy, the F/A-22 will not require extraordinary efforts to maintain its stealth characteristics.