F-22

SOME INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT F-22 RAPTOR’s WEAPON BAYS

By Dario Leone
Jun 8 2017
Share this article

The F-22 Raptor is able to launch its weapons at roll rates up to 100 degrees per second

Taken on May 20-21 by Teddy Techer, an aviation expert and a reader of The Aviation Geek Club during Wings Over Wayne Air Show at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base (AFB), the cool photo in this post gives us the chance to admire an F-22 Raptor performing a fly-by with its weapon bays doors open.

To perform its primary air-to-air role, the Raptor carries two AIM-9 Sidewinder infrared (heat seeking) air-to-air missiles in the side weapon bays and six AIM-120 AMRAAM radar-guided air-to-air missiles in the main weapon bays. Instead, to perform the air-to-ground mission the F-22 carries two 1,000 pound-class GBU-32 (or two 250-pound GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb in place of two AIM-120) Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM), two AIM-120 (in the main weapon bays) and two AIM-9 missiles (in the side weapon bays).

Noteworthy the F-22 is designed around its internal bays, which are essential for the aircraft stealthy design.

Actually, as reported by GlobalSecurity.org, several issues were encountered during the development of the weapon bays. For instance the limited space drove the configuration of the launchers and acoustic suppression devices. Moreover the Raptor’s ability to launch its weapons at roll rates up to 100 degrees per second has been a groundbreaking requirement made even tougher by tight clearances and flow fields that result from internal carriage.

The typical F-22’s combat configuration is “clean”, that is, with all armament carried internally and with no external stores. This configuration is an important factor not only because maintaining the F-22’s stealth characteristics allows the Raptor to fly and fight undetected by enemy radars, but also because it improves the fighter’s aerodynamics by dramatically reducing drag, which, in turn, improves the F-22’s range.

Nevertheless the Raptor features four under wing hard-points, each capable of carrying 5,000 pounds.

This print is available in multiple sizes from AircraftProfilePrints.com – CLICK HERE TO GET YOURS. F-22A Raptor 192nd Fighter Wing, 149th Fighter Squadron, FF/04-4082 – Langley AFB, VA – 2014

Photo credit: Teddy Techer

Artwork courtesy of AircraftProfilePrints.com

Source: U.S. Air Force


Share this article

Dario Leone

Dario Leone

Dario Leone is an aviation, defense and military writer. He is the Founder and Editor of “The Aviation Geek Club” one of the world’s most read military aviation blogs. His writing has appeared in The National Interest and other news media. He has reported from Europe and flown Super Puma and Cougar helicopters with the Swiss Air Force.

Leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Share this article


Share this article
Share this article

Always up to date! News and offers delivered directly to you!

Get the best aviation news, stories and features from The Aviation Geek Club in our newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox.



    Share this article
    Back to top
    My Agile Privacy
    This website uses technical and profiling cookies. Clicking on "Accept" authorises all profiling cookies. Clicking on "Refuse" or the X will refuse all profiling cookies. By clicking on "Customise" you can select which profiling cookies to activate. We and our selected ad partners can store and/or access information on your device, such as cookies, unique identifiers, browsing data. You can always choose the specific purposes related to profiling by accessing the advertising preferences panel, and you can always withdraw your consent at any time by clicking on "Manage consent" at the bottom of the page.

    List of some possible advertising permissions:

    You can consult: our list of advertising partners, the Cookie Policy and the Privacy Policy.
    Warning: some page functionalities could not work due to your privacy choices