Lockheed Martin FB-22
| FB-22 | |
|---|---|
| Role | Stealth bomber |
| Manufacturer | Lockheed Martin |
| Status | Design proposal |
| Developed from | Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor |
The Lockheed Martin FB-22 (sometimes called the Strike Raptor) was a proposed United States Air Force bomber aircraft. Its design was derived from the F-22 Raptor. The FB-22 was canceled following the 2006 Quadrennial Defense Review.
In 2001, Lockheed Martin began studies on the feasibility of the FB-22 as the company sought to leverage the design and capabilities of the F-22 Raptor. Experience gleaned from Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan demonstrated the value of a bomber that could remain in theatre in the absence of surface-to-air missiles. The F-22, while designed as an air superiority fighter, embodied some degree of air-to-ground attack ability.
To exploit the air-to-ground attack potential of the fighter design, Lockheed Martin planned to significantly enlarge the wing so that the design almost resembled a delta wing. Doing so would have significantly increase the fuel capacity and almost triple the F-22’s range, from 600 miles (970 km) to 1,600 miles (2,600 km). The larger internal weapons bay would have initially allowed the aircraft to carry 24 Small Diameter Bombs (SDB), compared with the F-22’s payload of eight; the aircraft's effectiveness would have equaled that of two B-2s armed with 2,000 JDAMs. The design could also have been adapted to use a more powerful engine, such as the F-35 Lightning II's Pratt & Whitney F135, or the General Electric/Rolls-Royce F136. While an early FB-22 concept featured no tailplanes, the design incorporated twin tailplanes and likely would have fixed engine nozzles as opposed to the thrust vectoring nozzles on the F-22.
Other than the wings, the aircraft would have retained much of the design of the F-22. This included 80 percent of the avionics, software, and flight controls. This commonality would have also significant reduced the costs of software integration. The FB-22 was to have a maximum speed of Mach 1.92, and carry 30 of the 250-pound (110 kg) SDBs.
Research has been conducted to develop a stealth ordnance pod and pylon. Such a pod would have had a low observable shape and have carried weapons internally, then would have opened when launching a missile or dropping a bomb. This allows a stealth aircraft to carry more ordnance than in the internal bays alone, while maintaining the craft's stealth characteristics. The pod and pylon design allows it to be detached when no longer needed.
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