The F-22A Raptor (also designated F-22 or F/A-22A) is a fifth-generation air superiority fighter aircraft. The F-22A is notable for its high speed and moderate degree of stealth technology, as well as its use of radar-guided missiles.
As an advanced and well-known aircraft, the F-22A has been the aircraft of choice for many Ace Combat protagonists, featured on many game covers, and involved in numerous conflicts throughout the series.
History
Strangereal
An Osean F-22A chasing an Erusian Su-30M near Lighthouse
In the Strangereal universe, the F-22A saw much earlier development than in our real world, having entered service by the mid- to late-20th century.[1] It was slowly adopted as a valuable aircraft for high-ranking pilots, seeing limited combat as early as the Belkan War in 1995[2] and the Usean Continental War in 1998.[3]
By the start of the 21st century, the F-22A was produced in larger quantities around the world for many air forces. The ISAF Air Force provided an F-22A for the famed ace, Mobius 1, towards the end of the Second Usean Continental War. The ISAF later procured three more F-22As for use in the Mobius Squadron during Operation Judgement Day.[4] By the 2020s, the F-22A saw further service in the Aurelian Air Force[5] and the Osean Air Defense Force.[6][7][8]
By the 2030s, the F-22A's appeal was slowly declining; ECM technology was rapidly advancing and anti-stealth radar networks were being developed at a similar pace, countering the F-22A's main advantages of radar-guided missiles and stealth. Its airframe, however, remains iconic partly due to its speed and mobility, leading General Resource Limited to manufacture the Connection for Flight Interface-equipped F-22C Raptor II.[1]
Real world
An F-22A manned by William Bishop at Homestead Air Reserve Base, Florida
The F-22A was developed by the United States in the 1980s to replace the F-15C Eagle in response to the Soviet Union's developments in aviation. The aircraft was conceived from the YF-22 Lightning II, the winner in the Advanced Tactical Fighter competition set out by the US government, over the YF-23 Black Widow II, which would not see further development. The F-22A was unveiled in early 1997 and entered service with the United States Air Force in 2005.[9]
Joint Assault
During the attacks by the Golden Axe Plan, Antares Squadron acquired at least one F-22A for use by its members.[10] It is unknown if Antares One himself used an F-22A.[11]
Assault Horizon
By early 2015, the United States was testing a new artificial intelligence known as Righteous to replace F-22A pilots. Colonel William Bishop was involved in testing the AI.[12] Later that year, during the New Russian Federation uprising, Colonel Bishop and other USAF pilots in Task Force 108 would pilot their F-22s during the liberation of Moscow[13] as well as countering Andrei Markov's attack on the eastern U.S.[14]
Infinity
F-22As saw limited use during Operation Eternal Liberation on both sides of the conflict; Reaper of Bone Arrow Squadron was eventually provided a personal F-22A,[15] and the USEA Federation's Shadow Squadron utilizes multiple F-22A airframes.[16]
Game Analysis
Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown
Gallery
A Raptor on a runway
A Raptor engaging Tu-95s
Flyby
An F-22A and an F/A-18F Super Hornet
Flyby
Ace Combat Infinity
- "This ultimate stealth fighter is the pride of the U.S. Armed Forces. Aside from flight performance, it has top class acceleration performance and a two-dimensional thrust deflect nozzle which also gives it outstanding maneuverability. Its preemptive strike power, called "first look, first shoot, first kill", is fitting for an aircraft with the name "Raptor", the master of the skies."
- ― Hangar
| Lv. | Cst | Price | GUN | MSL | QAAM | 4AAM | HPAA | SP | MO | ST | AA | AG | DF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 750 | 673,920 | 343 | 120 | 10 | – | – | B | C+ | D | B+ | D | E+ |
| 2 | 795 | 63,180 | 377 | 122 | 14 | – | – | B+ | B | D+ | B+ | D | D |
| 3 | 840 | 105,300 | 411 | 124 | 16 | – | – | B+ | B | D+ | A | D | D |
| 4 | 885 | 136,890 | 445 | 126 | 18 | 34 | – | A | B+ | C | A+ | D+ | D+ |
| 5 | 930 | 179,010 | 480 | 128 | 20 | 38 | – | A+ | A | C | A+ | D+ | C |
| 6 | 975 | 547,560[a] | 514 | 130 | 22 | 42 | – | A+ | A+ | C | A+ | D+ | C+ |
| 7 | 1020 | 400,140 | 548 | 132 | 24 | 46 | 28 | S | S | C+ | S | D+ | B |
| 8 | 1065 | 568,620 | 583 | 134 | 26 | 50 | 30 | S | S | C+ | S | D+ | A |
| 9 | 1110 | 800,280 | 617 | 136 | 27 | 52 | 31 | S+ | S+ | C+ | S+ | C | A+ |
| 10 | 1155 | 1,137,240 | 652 | 138 | 28 | 54 | 32 | S+ | S+ | B | S+ | C | S |
| 11 | 1202 | 2,274,480 | 686 | 142 | 29 | 56 | 33 | S+ | S+ | B | S+ | C | S+ |
| 12 | 1249 | 2,063,880 | 720 | 146 | 30 | 58 | 34 | S+ | S+ | B | S+ | C | S+ |
| 13 | 1296 | 3,032,640 | 755 | 150 | 31 | 60 | 35 | S+ | S+ | B+ | S+ | C | S+ |
| 14 | 1343 | 4,254,120 | 789 | 154 | 32 | 62 | 36 | S+ | S+ | B+ | S+ | C | S+ |
| 15 | 1390 | 5,180,760 | 824 | 158 | 34 | 66 | 38 | S++ | S+ | A | S+ | C | S+ |
| 16 | 1456 | 7,539,480 | 856 | 160 | 35 | 68 | 39 | S++ | S++ | A | S+ | C+ | S++ |
| 17 | 1515 | 8,634,600 | 888 | 162 | 36 | 70 | 40 | S++ | S++ | A | S+ | C+ | S++ |
| 18 | 1574 | 9,708,660 | 920 | 164 | 37 | 72 | 41 | S++ | S++ | A+ | S++ | C+ | S++ |
| 19 | 1633 | 12,404,340 | 952 | 166 | 38 | 74 | 42 | S++ | S++ | A+ | S++ | B | S++ |
| 20 | 1692 | 15,626,520 | 984 | 168 | 40 | 78 | 44 | S++ | S++ | S | S++ | B | S+++ |
- Part Slots
- At Lv.1, this aircraft carried 25 BODY, 25 ARMS, and 25 MISC part slots. See Tuning § Slot Expansion for further information.
- Nicknames
- Upgrading this aircraft to these levels unlocked the respective nicknames for use at any time.
- Lv.3: Airway Ruler
- Lv.10: Golden Canopy
- Lv.15: Apex Predator
- Lv.20: Raptor's Claws
Named Pilots
- Reaper
- Shadow Squadron
Skin Galleries
Description
- Standard gray body
Gallery
Hangar view
A flyby of the F-22A
Another flyby
Description
- Gray and green camouflage
Availability
- Limited-Time Drop (November 21 - December 2, 2014)
- Purchase from the Special Supply catalogue for 100 (June 1, 2016 - permanent)
Gallery
Hangar view
Description
- Blue, light blue, and gray camouflage
Availability
- Top 3,000 participants in the "It's time to decide who flies, and who falls from grace." Naval Fleet Assault Ranking Tournament (February 10-16, 2015)
- Purchase from the Skilled Pilot Medal exchange for 8 (April 1, 2016 - permanent)
Gallery
Description
- Two-tone blue camouflage
Availability
- Limited-Time Drop (June 24-30, 2015)
- Purchase from the Special Supply catalogue for 100 (June 1, 2016 - permanent)
Gallery
Hangar view
Flyby
Description
- White, red, and purple livery from Air Combat
Availability
- Ace Combat 20th Anniversary Challenge Event (June 30 - August 3, 2015)
- Challenge re-run (May 1-31, 2016)
Gallery
Hangar view
Flyby
Flyby
Description
- Black, blue, and purple variation of "AC" Skin #01
Availability
- Ace Combat 20th Anniversary Challenge Event (June 30 - August 3, 2015)
- Challenge re-run (May 1-31, 2016)
Gallery
Hangar view
Description
- Zone of Endless red
Availability
- Top 1,000 participants in the "Z.O.E. PROJECT" Online Co-Op Missions Ranking Tournament (January 21-25, 2016)
Gallery
Flyby
Ace Combat: Assault Horizon Legacy
- "A fighter with both stealth capabilities and thrust vectoring nozzles for superior maneuverability."
- ― Hangar
- STATISTICS
- WEAPONS
- COLORS
- C01: Grey body
- C02: Digital gray camo
- C03: Air superiority gray
- C04: Digital blue camo
- C05: Silver with teal edges, potentially based on Hatsune Miku. Customizable
- C06: Digital green camo. Customizable
- NAMED PILOTS
- GALLERY
A Raptor about to make a landing
A Raptor taking down an Su-37 Terminator
Color 1
Color 2
Color 3
Color 4
Color 5
Color 6
Ace Combat: Assault Horizon
- DESCRIPTION
- This ultimate stealth fighter is the pride of the U.S. Armed Forces. Aside from flight performance, it has top class acceleration performance and a two-dimensional thrust deflect nozzle which also gives it outstanding maneuverability. Its preemptive strike power, called "first look, first shoot, first kill," is fitting for an aircraft with the name "Raptor," the master of the skies.
- AVAILABILITY
- Complete "Launch".
- STATISTICS
- Speed: Superior
- Mobility: Superior
- Stability: Superior
- Fire Power: Superior
- Defense: Superior
- WEAPONS
- Missile x226
- 4-Target Air-to-Air Missile x30
- Quick Maneuver Air-to-Air Missile x30
- Flares x5
- COLORS
- Color 1: Air superiority gray.
- Color 2: Gray and brown desert camouflage.
- Color 3: Tiger stripe camouflage.
- Color 4: Mobius One color.
- Color 5: Antares Squadron livery.
- Color 6: THE IDOLMASTER Haruka
- Color 7: THE IDOLMASTER Haruka (Monochrome)
- Color 8: Warwolf
- Color 9: Flash
- GALLERY
An F-22A preparing for take-off
108th Task Force F-22A engaging an enemy Su-33 Flanker-D
An F-22 about to take off
- 309835 253477891349338 126506274046501 877871 2107143 a.jpg
- 313984 253483298015464 126506274046501 877903 1949813 n.jpg
An F-22 with a T-50 PAK-FA
A downed F-22
An F-22 with an F-16C Fighting Falcon
Color 4
Color 5
Ace Combat: Joint Assault
- DESCRIPTION
- A fighter with both stealth capabilities and thrust vectoring nozzles for superior maneuverability.
- AVAILABILITY
- Costs $332,000.
- STATISTICS
- Speed: Above Average
- Air-to-Air: Superior
- Air-to-Ground: Above Average
- Mobility: Maximum
- Stability: Maximum
- Defense: Medium
- WEAPONS
- Standard Missile x168
- High Accuracy Missile x122
- Light Weight Missile x224
- Heavy Weight Missile x56
- Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile x32
- Quick Maneuver Air-to-Air Missile x17
- Guided Penetration Bomb x27
- Stand-off Dispenser x24
- COLORS
- C01: Air superiority gray.
- C02: YF-22 livery.
- C03: Gray and brown desert camouflage.
- C04: Mobius One camouflage.
- C05: Matte gray.
- C06: Light blue desert camouflage. Estovakia SP camouflage from Ace Combat 6.
- NAMED PILOTS
- Antares One
- GALLERY
Color 2
Color 3
Color 4
Color 5
Color 6
Ace Combat Xi: Skies of Incursion
Gallery
Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation
- DESCRIPTION
- The F-22A is a composite of the latest technologies, including the ability to cruise at supersonic speeds. This ultra-powerful 5th generation fighter is aptly titled "Air Dominance Fighter". Commanding powerful thrust and stealth technologies, the F-22A represents the leading edge of aircraft technology. As well as being dispenser munitions capable, high-performance missiles allow it to attack from beyond the range of enemy aircraft. Geared perfectly for aerial combat missions, the F-22A is a powerful preemptive fighter.
- STATISTICS
- Speed: Maximum
- Air-to-Air: Maximum
- Air-to-Ground: Medium
- Stability: Superior
- Defense: Above Average
- Mobility: Superior
- WEAPONS
- Missile x250
- XMA6 x72
- Quick Maneuver Air-to-Air Missile x40
- Stand-off Dispenser x55
- COLORS
- Emmeria: Air superiority gray.
- Estovakia: Gray camouflage.
- Estovakia SP: Gray and brown desert camouflage.
- Mobius (DLC)
- Gryphus Emblem (DLC)
- Indigo Wing (DLC)
- THE IDOLMASTER Haruka (DLC)
- Razgriz (DLC)
- NAMED PILOTS
- Pegas
- GALLERY
Emmerian Raptors
Razgriz Set 04
Ace Combat X: Skies of Deception
- "A fighter with both stealth capabilities and thrust vectoring nozzles for superior maneuverability."
- ― Hangar
How to Unlock
- Complete Joint Operation, In Pursuit I or In Pursuit II. Costs 51,100
Statistics
Weapons
Skins
- Aurelia: Air superiority gray
- Leasath: YF-22 livery
- Special 1: Digital camouflage
- Special 2: Mobius One livery
Named Pilots
- Pain - Found in Alect Squadron. Spawns to the east after all non-target aircraft are destroyed.
- Gryphus One
- GALLERY
Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War
- DESCRIPTION
- A fighter with stealth capabilities and thrust vectoring nozzles for superior maneuverability. Designed to relieve much of the pilot's burden, the "Raptor" represents a new generation of air superiority.
- AVAILABILITY
- Complete the campaign once with any Ace Style. Costs $181,000 in a New Game Plus.
Statistics
- Speed: 83
- Mobility: 88
- Stability: 82
- Defense: 66
- Air-to-Air: 96
- Air-to-Ground: 59
- WEAPONS
- Missile x82
- Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile x18
- Guided Penetration Bomb x12
- Stand-off Dispenser x18
- COLORS
- Standard: Air superiority camouflage.
- Mercenary: Black body.
- Soldier: Mobius One color.
- Knight: Desert camouflage.
- Special: Gray body with white frontal area. Modeled after the original YF-22.
- NAMED PILOTS
- Bergvogel
- Adler
- Ritter
- Mobius One (The Gauntlet)
- GALLERY
A Raptor over Valais Air Base
Standard color
Mercenary color
Soldier color
Knight color
Special color
Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War
- DESCRIPTION
- With a combination of stealth capabilities and superior maneuverability of its thrust vectoring nozzles, the "Raptor" lives up to its name as the ultimate air superiority fighter.
- AVAILABILITY
- Complete the campaign mission "Journey Home" or complete Arcade Mode once in any route. Costs $24,000 per aircraft.
- STATISTICS
- Speed: High
- Mobility: High
- Stability: High
- Defense: Medium
- Air-to-Air: High
- Air-to-Ground: Medium
- WEAPONS
- Missile x82
- Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile x16
- COLORS
- Osea: Air superiority gray.
- RZ
- Special: Mobius One livery. Unlocked with aircraft if Arcade Mode is completed once.
- NAMED PILOTS
- GALLERY
An F-22 in Osean colors
Raptors flying by Basset Space Center
A Raptor and a YF-23 Black Widow II
OSEA color in the hangar
Razgriz color in the hangar
Special paint scheme
Ace Combat 04: Shattered Skies
- "An exceptional fighter with superior maneuverability, payload, Stealth, supersonic cruise, and thrust vectoring."
- ― Hangar
- AVAILABILITY
- Complete "Whiskey Corridor". Costs $643,000.
- STATISTICS
- Speed: High
- Air-to-Air: High
- Air-to-Ground: High
- Mobility: High
- Stability: High
- Defense: High
- WEAPONS
- Machine Gun x850
- Missile x74
- Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile x22
- Precision Guided Bomb x8
- COLORS
- Standard: Air superiority gray.
- Enemy: Dark gray body.
- Special: Black body. Priced at $836,000.
- NAMED PILOTS
- Mobius One
- Mobius Squadron
- Abell (Erusea)
- GALLERY
Artwork
Mobius 1 over Comona
An F-22 attacking the Stonehenge Turret Network
ISAF color scheme hangar
Erusian color scheme hangar
Ace Abell color scheme hangar
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Trivia
- The F-22A's external stealth weapon pod featured in Ace Combat 7 is real technology being tested on the Advanced Super Hornet prototype in real life.
- The F-22A is the most recurring aircraft on Ace Combat game covers, featured as the canon aircraft of Phoenix, Mobius 1, Gryphus One, Antares One, and Colonel William Bishop.
- In Air Combat and Ace Combat 2, the aircraft designated F-22 actually uses the model of the YF-22 Lightning II.
- In the early stages of development of Ace Combat: Assault Horizon, the F-22A bore the "TY" tailcode of Tyndall Air Force Base. Tyndall is the home to the 43rd Fighter Squadron, the first operational Raptor squadron. The final tailcode, FF, represents the 1st Fighter Wing ("Fighting First"), the first wing of the USAF that operates the aircraft.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Photosphere, page 6.
- ↑ Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War - Assault Records #123.
- ↑ F-22A -Scarface1- description, Ace Combat Infinity.
- ↑ F-22A -Mobius1-, F-22A -Mobius2-, F-22A -Mobius3-, and F-22A -Mobius4- descriptions, Ace Combat Infinity.
- ↑ End of Deception I and End of Deception II, Ace Combat X: Skies of Deception.
- ↑ Sea of Chaos, Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War.
- ↑ File:Ace Combat 7 - Announcement Trailer.
- ↑ File:Ace Combat 7 - PS4 - War is taking off (English) (PSX 2016).
- ↑ F-22A Raptor goes operational. U.S. Air Force. Published December 15, 2005.
- ↑ F-22A -Antares- description, Ace Combat Infinity.
- ↑ See Antares One#Trivia for information on Antares One's canon aircraft.
- ↑ The Last Ace.
- ↑ Aftermath, Ace Combat: Assault Horizon.
- ↑ Home Front, Hurricane, and Akula, Ace Combat: Assault Horizon.
- ↑ F-22A -Reaper-, Ace Combat Infinity.
- ↑ Any Shadow Squadron appearance, Ace Combat Infinity.
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