11 crazy up-close photos of the F-22 Raptor stealth fighter jet soaring through the air

Daniel BrownApr 13, 2018, 18:51 IST

US Air Force

The US Air Force's F-22 Raptor is arguably the best stealth jet in the world, despite being introduced more than a decade ago.

Although Russia and China recently put their first stealth fighter jets into combat service, both aircraft have yet to be mass produced and Moscow and Beijing have reportedly had problems with the fifth generation engines.

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One could make a case for the F-35 being superior to the F-22, but they are ultimately different kinds of aircraft. The F-35 is more of a bomber and a reconnaissance jet, whereas the F-22 is a stealthier fighter and more maneuverable.

Here's what it can do:

See 11 crazy up-close photos of the F-22 Raptor stealth fighter jet soaring through the air >>

The F-22 is an air dominance, multi-role fighter that was made operational in 2005.

The F-22 was contracted by Boeing and Lockheed Martin.

Source: Defense Department

It's nearly 17 feet tall, over 62 feet long, and has a wingspan of nearly 45 feet.

Source: Defense Department

It also weighs 43,340 pounds.

Source: Defense Department

It's powered by two Pratt & Whitney F119-PW-100 turbofan engines that provide a total of 70,000 pounds of thrust.

Source: Defense Department

The F-22 can travel at speeds greater than Mach 2 and has the ability to supercruise, which the F-35 can't.

Source: Defense Department

It also has a maximum range of 1,850 miles.

Source: Defense Department

And a maximum altitude of more than 50,000 feet.

Source: Defense Department

It can also carry a variety of munitions, including radar-guided air-to-air missiles, heat seeking air-to-air missiles, joint direct attack munitions, and more.

The picture above shows the Raptor's main internal weapons bays.

Source: Defense Department

Each Raptor costs $143 million.

Source: Defense Department

But the Raptor program was terminated in 2009, with the last one being delivered to the Air Force in 2012. Although there have been rumblings of it being restarted to upgrade the aircraft.

Source: Defense Department

The US currently has a fleet of 183 Raptors.

Source: Defense Department

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11 crazy up-close photos of the F-22 Raptor stealth fighter jet soaring through the air

The F-22 is an air dominance, multi-role fighter that was made operational in 2005.

It's nearly 17 feet tall, over 62 feet long, and has a wingspan of nearly 45 feet.

It also weighs 43,340 pounds.

It's powered by two Pratt & Whitney F119-PW-100 turbofan engines that provide a total of 70,000 pounds of thrust.

The F-22 can travel at speeds greater than Mach 2 and has the ability to supercruise, which the F-35 can't.

It also has a maximum range of 1,850 miles.

And a maximum altitude of more than 50,000 feet.

It can also carry a variety of munitions, including radar-guided air-to-air missiles, heat seeking air-to-air missiles, joint direct attack munitions, and more.

Each Raptor costs $143 million.

But the Raptor program was terminated in 2009, with the last one being delivered to the Air Force in 2012. Although there have been rumblings of it being restarted to upgrade the aircraft.

The US currently has a fleet of 183 Raptors.