F-22 Raptor Introduction

The F-22 Raptor is a stealth fighter aircraft built by Lockheed Martin Aeronautics and Boeing Integrated Defense Systems. It was originally envisioned as an air superiority fighter, but is equipped for ground attack, electronic attack, and signals intelligence roles as well.

Long in development, the aircraft was also known as the prototype YF-22 and as the F/A-22 for three years before formally entering United States Air Force service in December 2005 as the F-22A.

Intended to be the leading American advanced tactical fighter in the early part of the 21st century, the Raptor is the most expensive fighter to date. As of April 2005 the total development and production cost of the program is at least $70 billion, and the number of planes to be built has dropped to 180, raising the cost per plane to several hundred million dollars each [1] [2] (Some say the estimate should be somewhat lower because some research and development support the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter as well.)