2822 F-22A Raptor - Italeri 1/48 Scale

2822 F-22A Raptor - Italeri 1/48 Scale

Scale: 1:48

Box Dim. 370 x 60 x 240 mm

The Lockheed F-22 Raptor is an American air superiority fighter with highly developed ground attack capabilities, as well as electronic warfare and electronic surveillance.

The F-22 was the winner of the April 1991 competition announced by the USAAF for the Advanced Tactical Fighter, dating back to 1981. At that time, a $12 billion program was launched, and construction began on a highly maneuverable, indirectly controlled stealth fighter.

The U.S. Navy joined the program in April 1986, hoping to build a successor to the F-14 Tomcat. Later that year, the Department of Defense announced that Lockheed and Northrop had advanced to the next stage. Each company was to build a prototype, designated YF-22 and YF-23, respectively. From that point on, Lockheed joined forces with Boeing and General Dynamics, which later resulted in the division of production aircraft production between Boeing and Lockheed plants.

The F-22 Raptor is one of the world's first, if not the only, fifth-generation fighter jets. Thanks to the use of a completely new powertrain (two Pratt-Whitney F119-PW-100 thrust-vectoring engines) and low aerodynamic drag, the F-22's speed, according to unofficial data, exceeds 2.4 Ma.

t is highly maneuverable, allowing it to perform aerobatic stunts such as the Pugacheva Cobra or the Kulbit. The F-22's key feature is its Stealth technology, which is based on aerodynamic excellence, the overall fuselage shape, and refined exterior details. Its Precise Radar View (RCS) is still classified. Also very important is its innovative AN/APG-77 radar, which makes it possible to detect objects at approximately 250 km. Furthermore, this radar allows the F-22 to act as a "mini-AWACS" aircraft, significantly increasing its combat capabilities. F-22 production ended in 2011, with 187 aircraft produced, forcing Lockheed to maintain the production lines and facilities. Due to its technological advancement, the F-22 is not exported.