F-22 avionics suite powers up for first time

Released: 20 Sep 1999

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio (AFPN) -- America's F-22 Raptor air superiority fighter reached a much-anticipated milestone when Raptor 4004's advanced avionics suite turned on for the first time Aug. 31.

The event signaled that the new fighter will soon be ready to prove its enhanced ability to detect and destroy enemies at long range.

Raptor 4004 is the first F-22 with the program's Block 1.1 avionics installed. Engineers at Lockheed Martin Aeronautical Systems applied electrical power to the aircraft's common integrated processors, or CIPs.

The F-22's CIP serves as the brains of the aircraft's totally integrated avionics system. When combined with stealth and supercruise, it will give the Air Force a "first-look, first-shot, first-kill" ability to see at long range without being seen and to kill without being killed.

According to program managers, these capabilities are vital to continued U.S. air superiority in the next century.

"We've reached another critical step to proving system maturity," said Gerry Freisthler, deputy director for the F-22 program office here. "Avionics power-on means we're a little bit closer to providing operational line pilots with the technology they need to dominate the skies in the 21st century."

By integrating all radar, electronic warfare and identification sensor data -- as well as data for communication, navigation, weapons and systems status into coherent, fused information accessible via multi-functional displays -- the pilot is able to concentrate on flying the aircraft and winning the air battle, versus operating sensor systems.

"The Raptor's advanced avionics system is state-of-the-art and will free the pilot from complex information handling and assimilation," said Mike Harris, Boeing F-22 avionics program director.

Boeing, responsible for integrating the Raptor's advanced avionics, completed more than 9,000 hours of testing in its avionics integration lab and more than 170 hours on its 757 flying test bed before delivery of Block 1.1 in late May.

So far, flight test work at the F-22's Combined Test Force, Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., has focused on validating the aircraft's airframe and engine design. A third F-22, Raptor 4003, will continue that work when it's delivered to Edwards early next year. Raptor 4004 will move avionics flight testing to its next phase when it's delivered to Edwards in the fall of 2000.

A follow-on version of the Raptor's avionics, Block 1.2, will be delivered in January to support 4004 taxi and first-flight testing. Raptor 4004 is expected to fly next summer from Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Ga., and join the F-22 test fleet at Edwards. (Courtesy of Air Force Materiel Command News Service)