FB-22 Strike Raptor
Aircraft role	Attacker
Manufacturer	Lockheed Martin Aeronautics
Real-world origin	United States of America
AC installments	Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War Ace Combat X: Skies of Deception Ace Combat X2: Joint Assault
Primary operator	Union of Yuktobanian Republics
Secondary operators	Aurelia (AAF) Leasath (LAF)
Plane variant(s)	YF-22 Lightning II F-22A Raptor F-22C Raptor II
[Source]

The FB-22 Strike Raptor is a ground-attack aircraft based on the F-22A Raptor. It is a proposed USAF aircraft, originally intended to replace the F-15E Strike Eagle, as well as precede the future 2037 Bomber.

DescriptionEdit

It is a strategic bomber concept that has made the rounds in the United States Congress and has had developed a fair amount of interest from government sources and the public, but has been shelved while more considerations are made in developing upgrades to the Air Force’s B-1B Lancer and B-2A Spirit fleets. The theory behind the FB-22 regards the post-Cold War axiom that the age of the large-payload bomber is obsolete, and smaller, tactical aircraft see a better mission execution capability rate and a far better chance of survival in the future’s conventional wars. This was proven partially true in the Persian Gulf, with tactical aircraft like the F-15E Strike Eagle executing strategic bombing operations up to par with its larger bomber counterparts. The FB-22 builds on the tactical bomber concept by modifying the F-22 airframe to suite an air-to-ground role. It is a two-seater, longer delta-wing version of the F-22, carrying a larger payload and dual AIM-120C missiles for self-defense. It would retain its super-cruise and stealth capabilities from its predecessor.

Concepts have most famously portrayed it as a tailless-delta airframe, although there have been additional concepts showing it with enlarged versions of the F-22’s two-poster rudder design. Its primary armament would consist of up to 30 small-diameter guided bombs (SDB), which would do concentrated damage to separate designated targets. To carry this larger payload, it would likely be equipped with the powerful F135 engine found on the Joint Strike Fighter (later the F-35 Lightning II). Given the great expense of the F-22’s production line and the low-priority of a new bomber aircraft for the United States Air Force, it’s likely that the FB-22 will keep its place on the drawing board unless a high-demand arises within the next few decades.

AcesEdit

• Proteus: YAF (AC5)
• Orca: LAF (ACX)

ArmamentsEdit

Standard WeaponsEdit

• Gun: 1x 20mm M61A2 Lightweight Vulcan Cannon
• Missiles: AIM-9M Sidewinder

Special WeaponsEdit

• XAGM: Advanced Air-To-Ground Missile (ACX/ACX2)
• SOD: AGM-154 JSOW (Joint Standoff Weapon) (AC5/ACX/ACX2)
• BDSP: JP223 Anti Runway Submunitions (ACX/ACX2)
  
• QAAM: AIM-9X Sidewinder (ACX2)

StatisticsEdit

Ace Combat 5Edit

• Speed: 73
• Mobility: 73
• Stability: 89
• Defense: 78
• Air-to-Air: 54
• Air-to-Ground: 99

Ace Combat XEdit

• Speed: 72
• Air-to-Air: 51
• Air-to-Ground: 99
• Mobility: 72
• Stability: 85
• Defense: 78

Comparable AircraftEdit

• B-1B Lancer
• Su-32 Strike Flanker
• F-15E Strike Eagle

Related DevelopmentEdit

• YF-22 Lightning II
• F-22A Raptor

SourcesEdit

• The Ace Combat Series
  
• Global Security.org
  
• Fighter Planes.com
  
• Federation of American Scientists Military Analysis Network