F-22A Raptor

The F-22 Raptor is one of the best fighters in the Ace Combat series, stat-wise. It is the main aircraft on the cover for most of the series (for Air Combat, 04,X, and Joint Assault). F-22 variants have been featured in all Ace Combat ( such as the F-22C Raptor II or the FB-22 Strike Raptor) games with the exception of Ace Combat Advance. It is a stealth fighter aircraft designed to replace the F-15C Eagle. The premier payload and high maneuverability are also reasons why it has good reputation. The F-22 is the flagship plane for almost every Ace Combat game so far, and the F-22A is also the main aircraft of nearly all aces in the Ace Combat series.

Description
The F-22 was first flown as the YF-22 in September 29, 1990 as part of the ATF program along with the YF-23A Black Widow II. After a hard-fought fly off, the F-22 was declared the winner in August 1991. The Main production version of the F-22 Raptor (also known as the Lightning II, the Rapier and the SuperStar until April 9, 1997) first flew on September 7, 1997. This version entered service in December of 2005. It's primary role is as an Air Superiority fighter, similar in effect to the F-15C/D Eagle that it was slated to be replace. The missiles on the the aircraft were stored in internal weapon bays, two under the wing root that can store two Aim-9X Sidewinder missles each and one under the fuselage that can store six AIM-120C/D AMRAAMs are or a variety of air to ground munitions. The F-22A was also known as the F/A-22 in 2002. This is due to the fact that the Raptor has a secondary ground-attack role. Another great roll that it could have played was as an carrier based variant for the aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford as seen in some pictures and articles. However, the name changed back to F-22A on September 12, 2005. One of the best traits of the F-22A Raptor is its advanced AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array) radar, which can detect enemy aircraft, missile launches, and jam incoming hostile missiles. It's supercruise speed is normally around Mach 1.5, but can reach at top of Mach 1.8 without afterburners. Its true top speed is still classified. It also has superb agility due to its high thrust-to-weight ratio, high angle of attack, low wing loading, advanced "fly-by-wire" control, and thrust vector nozzles like F-15S/MTD. The F-22 is truly more than a match for any other fighter, even for the elusive Su-37 Terminator. Interestingly, a scenario created by RAND described a situation where a Raptor could be splashed by a group of Su-35's when the Sukhoi's downed the Raptor's tanker support. This study was later proved to be highly inaccurate, due to the Raptor's clear performance advantage and stealth capabilities, and the Raptor solidified itself as the deadliest air superiority fighter in the modern world. However stealthy an aircraft is, it can still be tracked on radar and destroyed like the F-117A NightHawk that was shot down during the Balkan conflict.There are a few aircraft that can dodge thale Raptor's BVR weaponry, they include the French Rafale and the Russian Su-27 Flanker family.Both of which are widely available to nations that want to build up thier air force quickly, so there is a slight chance that a Raptor can be overwhelmed by the other fighters. The fifth color for the F- 22 in Ace Combat: Joint Assault is the same as the last two Orgoi seen in the same game. It was likely that the Golden Axe Plan Private Army intended to field the F-22 for use as a carrier fighter onboard the Orgoi II, but for some reason cancelled the plan.

Standard Weapons

 * Gun: 1x 20mm Martin Marietta M61A2 Lightweight Vulcan Cannon
 * Missile: AIM-9M Sidewinder
 * HACM: AIM-9X Sidewinder (ACX2)
 * LGWM: R550 Magic (ACX2)
 * HVWM: AIM-132 ASRAAM (ACX2)

Special Weapons

 * GPB: GBU-31 JDAM (AC4 & ACZ) or GBU-28 Paveway III (ACX, ACX2)
 * QAAM: AIM-9X Sidewinder (AC6), R-73 Archer (ACX2)
 * XMAA: AIM-120B AMRAAM (ACZ), AIM-120C AMRAAM (AC4, AC5 ,ACX, ACX2)
 * SOD: AGM-154 JSOW (ACZ, AC6), Storm Shadow (ACX, ACX2)
 * XMA6: AIM-120C AMRAAM (AC6)

Aces

 * Mobius Squadron (ISAF/AC4, AC5/Arcade)
 * Abell (FEAF/AC4) Grey with FEAF SP Paint scheme
 * Falco Squadron (AAF/ACX)
 * Bergvogel (Mountain bird) (BAF/ACZ)
 * Adler (Eagle) (BAF/ACZ)
 * Ritter (Knight) (BAF then AWWNB/ACZ)
 * Mobius (Possibly Mobius 1. Only appears in The Gauntlet on Ace mode if Espada Squadron is shot down in under a minute) (ISAF/ACZ)1323px-AC4_F22_Mobius_One_official_artwork.jpg
 * Aquila (AAF/ACX)
 * Gryphus Squadron (AAF/ACX)ACX_F22.jpg
 * Pain (LAF/ACX)
 * Pegas (EAF/AC6)
 * Unicorn (EAF/AC6)
 * Ceres (EAF/AC6)
 * Mobius One (EAF, possible non-canon appearance) (AC6, Ace of Aces)
 * Gryphus One (AAF) (AC6, Ace of Aces)
 * Antares Squadron (Martinez Security) (ACJA)
 * Gryphus 1 (Valahia/ACJA)
 * Mobius 1 (Valahia/ACJA)
 * Warwolf Squadron (USAF/AC:AH)

Ace Combat 5/Zero

 * Speed: 83
 * Mobility: 88
 * Stability: 82
 * Defense: 66
 * Air to Air: 96
 * Air to Ground: 59

Ace Combat 6

 * Speed: 89
 * Mobility: 85
 * Stability: 82
 * Defense: 66
 * Air-to-Air: 96
 * Air-to-Ground: 59

Ace Combat X

 * Speed: 78
 * Air-to-Air: 54
 * Air-to-Ground: 84
 * Mobility: 84
 * Stability: 78
 * Defense: 66

Comparable Aircraft

 * YF-23A Black Widow II
 * Su-37 Terminator
 * Su-47 Berkut
 * MiG-1.44 Flatpack
 * F-35C Lightning II
 * Su-35BM
 * S-32
 * F-35B Lightning II

Related Development

 * YF-22 Lightning II
 * FB-22 Strike Raptor
 * F-22C Raptor II
 * F-35C Lightning II
 * F-35B Lightning II

Trivia

 * Though the top speed of the F-22A Raptor is still classified, it has become as common knowledge as classified information can be that the Raptor can reach speeds topping Mach 3. F-22A pilots have proudly borne their Mach 3 patches in public. Speculation is that speeds this great at lower altitudes degrade the stealth ability of the Raptor through detrimental effects to the radar absorbing material on the exterior of the aircraft.
 * Both the F-22 and EF-2000 hold the highest record of ten appearences in Ace Combat games except Ace Combat 3 and Advanced. Both fighters have been confirmed to appear in Assault Horizon.