In 1981 the USAF developed a requirement for an Advanced Tactical Fighter as a new air superiority fighter. It would take advantage of the new technologies in fighter design on the horizon including composite materials, lightweight alloys, advanced flight control systems, higher power propulsion systems and stealth technology. Air Force leaders believed these new technologies would make aircraft like the F-15 and F-16 obsolete by the early 21st century. In 1985 the Air Force sent out technical requests for proposals to a number of aircraft manufacturing teams. The Lockheed-Boeing-General Dynamics team built two YF-22 prototypes -- one with General Electric YF-120 engines and the other with Pratt & Whitney YF-119 engines. After extensive flight tests the Lockheed team won the airframe competition, and the Pratt & Whitney team received the engine contract.
TECHNICAL NOTES (F-22A): Armament: One 20mm M61A2 Vulcan cannon, six AIM-120C AMRAAM and two AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles in internal weapons bays, provisions for external fuel tanks and weapons on four mount points Engines: Two Pratt & Whitney F119-PW-100s of approx. 35,000 lbs. thrust each with afterburner (one YF-22 had General Electric F120-GE-100 turbofans, engine competition won by P&W) Maximum speed: Approx. Mach 2.0 Service ceiling: Approx. 65,000 ft. (ATF design spec) Span: 44 ft. 6 in. Length: 62 ft. 1 in. Height: 16 ft. 5 in. Weight: 58,000 lbs. takeoff (YF-22/ATF design spec) Crew: One
