The F-22 Raptor Stealth Fighter could have been “shape-shifted” into a bomber

What you need to know: The Lockheed-Martin F-22 Raptor, the US Air Force’s primary stealth fighter, outperforms all near-peer airframes in capabilities such as stealth, supercruise and supermaneuverability. However, it was never adapted for carrier operations due to budgetary and technical constraints within the Naval Advanced Tactical Fighter (NATF) program.

-Although Congress initially pushed for a carrier-compatible FB-22 bomber, the design’s limited combat range, expensive swept-wing configuration, and limited internal bomb capacity prevented its development.

– Despite expensive maintenance and its small fleet, the F-22 remains a significant deterrent against US adversaries, but plans to retire older models face resistance.

Why the F-22 Raptor couldn’t become a carrier-based bomber

Since its inception, the Lockheed-Martin F-22 “Raptor” has outperformed any close airframe.

As the planet’s first operational aircraft—combining stealth, supercruise, supermaneuverability and sensor fusion in a single airframe—the Raptor remains one of America’s most feared platforms by rival militaries.

However, there is one thing the world’s most capable air superiority stealth fighter can’t do: fly from a carrier.

Catching up to the Soviets

The single-seat, twin-engine tactical fighter entered service with the US Air Force in 2005 following a lengthy and expensive production process. As a product of the US Air Force’s Advanced Tactical Fighter program, the Raptor was intended to outclass advanced Soviet fighters including the Sukhoi Su-27 and Mikoyan MiG-29. At this point in the Cold War, the Air Force determined that its current capabilities could be at a “mission deficiency” for the foreseeable future unless a superior fighter was in the works.

Some of the Raptor’s cutting-edge capabilities include its smaller radar cross-section, which allows the airframe to fly undetected. In fact, the cross section of the F-22 is about five to ten times less observable than the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. In addition, the fighter is equipped with twin F119 turbofan engines with thrust vectoring, which gives its pilot unparalleled advantages in dogfights. The fighter’s larger frame also has three internal weapon bays.

The Raptor’s formidable potential convinced Congress to pressure the US Navy to consider adopting a swept-wing version of the new jet under the Naval Advanced Tactical Fighter (NATF) program. As he details Sandboxx Media“In exchange for the Navy considering NATF as a potentially lower-cost alternative to developing its own carrier-based replacement fighter, the US Air Force has agreed to evaluate a modified version of the carrier-based stealth bomber , which is being developed under the Navy’s Advanced program. Tactical Aircraft Program (ATA) as a replacement for their own aging F-111.”

This collaborative approach would eventually spawn joint fighter jet programs within the US Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force that would result in the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program.

However, by 1991, the plan to incorporate a carrier-compatible FB-22 was abandoned primarily for technical and budgetary reasons. Converting the Raptor into a bomber would have a significant impact on the airframe’s payload and range. Defense expert Sebastian Roblin has previously explained why the F-22’s limited combat range would have been detrimental to bomber operations. The Raptor’s 600-mile combat range “is not far enough for a deep-penetrating bomber that cannot rely on tanker aircraft to reach hostile airspace.”

FB-22 Bomber: Would have been outstanding, but expensive

Additionally, the Raptor can only carry four small diameter bombs in its internal weapons bay. Any more munitions positioned on the wings of the airframe would diminish the Raptor’s stealth. Also, engineers they fight with how to incorporate a swept wing design similar to the F-14 Tomcat into the FB-22. Rotary wings are extremely expensive to maintain, and integrating this design into the airframe would compromise its stealth.

While an FB-22 carrier-capable bomber would have been truly remarkable, it probably wouldn’t have altered the overall capabilities of the US military’s current carrier platforms. Additionally, the Air Force has purchased only 187 F-22 aircraft through 2009—hundreds fewer than originally projected. America’s shift to the Global War on Terror and the continued development of cheaper and comparable platforms meant that Raptors were limited. Today, the Air Force is trying to do it retire its fleet of older model F-22 fighter jets due to expensive platform maintenance and declining value. Congress is working to stop the Air Force from taking such action.

Despite the limited number of available and operational aircraft, the F-22 Raptor still deters US adversaries. If the FB-22 was developed under the NAFT program, the bomber would likely face the same growing pains as its sister platform today.

About the author

Maya Carlin is an analyst at the Center for Security Policy and former Anna Sobol Levy Fellow at IDC Herzliya in Israel. She has written for many publications, including The National Interest, the Jerusalem Post, and the Times of Israel.

Image credit: FB-22 artist creation.