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In the middle of 2002 the United States Department of Defense
released, publicly, the first hints to its new super-bomber fleet,
a production variant of the F-22 Raptor. An aircraft that itself
had not yet finished its shakedown test phase. The promise of the
airframe roved so versatile that while the Raptor was nearing the
completion of its own testing, Lockheed Martin began work on a
production variant to present to the DoD, the FB-22 Raptor Fighter
Bomber.
The new FB-22
maintained many of the key systems that made the DoD pick the
original F-22. Including its stealthy characteristics, internal
weapons load, supersonic flight speeds, advanced long range radar,
and high altitude. Like its older brother, the FB-22 maintains all
these systems and capabilities, but instead of being centered
around a ‘dog fighting’ role, the FB-22 has been designed as a
long-range tactical bomber. The body of the F-22 was redesigned
into a blended body delta wing. Its internal weapons bay was
lengthened and modified to hold two-dozen of the DoD’s new small
diameter bombs, instead of the dog fighter’s dozen AMRAAM
missiles. Although the port and starboard payload bays continue to
hold AIM–9 series Sidewinders to protect the craft incase of
enemy aircraft.
The FB-22 is the
product of a illustrated shortfall of the DoD’s military policy
surrounding the development and application of bombers. Up until
the point where the FB-22 was developed the United States relied
on its aging fleet of B-52’s and B-1’s to perform the mission
of long-range bomber. However the older aircraft had already
become susceptible to advanced anti-aircraft missile platforms and
high-powered radars. With the events of September 11th
2001, the deficiency of the bomber fleet would soon be
illustrated. After the 9-11 terrorist attack, the United States
and its allies engaged in a campaign of peace and freedom, one
designed to purge the terrorist elements from their hiding places.
However with the
political pressures of the Middle East, the United States and the
Alliance, found few partners willing to provide Air Bases for
their bombers. Those few that did, could not guarantee the safety
of the aircraft or the pilots and crew. The Alliance was forced to
fly, few and sometimes ineffective bomber missions from long-range
bases. The DoD decided then and there that a new generation
fighter-bomber was needed to reassert Alliance Air Superiority,
and the FB-22 Project was born.
With in months
the first prototype rolled off the production line, its design and
components were so similar to the F-22 (standard Raptor), that the
FB-22 was able to be produced in record time, and for an all time
low (modern) budget of only 4.5 billion dollars. With the redesign
complete it was only a matter of time before the FB-22 received
production approval. In 2005 the first FB-22’s began rolling off
the assembly line in tandem with the F-22 standard Raptor. Fleets
of these two super fighters began to be assembled. Within short
order the DoD’s fleet of FB-22’s had been assembled.
The role of the
FB-22 has been designed to travel at supersonic speeds into enemy
territory. Determine the location and strengths of the enemy AA
systems. Target and destroy the highest priority targets with its
payload of small diameter bombs, and clear the path for slower
flying (and lower altitude) heavy bombers to complete the
mission.
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