The F-22 Raptor Facts: 30 Things to Know

The Raptor Can “Supercruise” – Mach 1.5 Without Afterburners

An F-22 Raptor from Langley Air Force Base, Va., performs for thousands during an April 1 air show at Naval Base Ventura County in Point Mugu, Calif. The F-22 is the Air Force's newest fighter aircraft. Its combination of stealth, supercruise, maneuverability, and integrated avionics, coupled with improved supportability, represents an exponential leap in warfighting capabilities.

One of the F-22s most talked about features is its ability to “supercruise”. Aircraft that reach Mach 1 aren’t all the special in today’s air force environment, but what makes the F-22 a standout is that it can fly at Mach 1.5+ without using afterburners. Afterburners consume extremely high amounts of fuel and therefore will not allow most aircraft to sustain this speed. The F-22 Raptor is loaded with two Pratt and Whitney F119 engines that produce enough thrust to avoid the need for afterburners and send missiles flying farther and at higher speeds than normal fighters. Supercruise gets the F-22 in and out of combat quickly, and allows for long-range air patrols, buying more time over the enemy target. In fact, the F-22 is the only operational aircraft that, even when fully loaded with weapons, can achieve supercruise.