Key Points and Summary: The F-22 Raptor, developed by Lockheed Martin, is renowned as one of the most advanced air superiority fighters in the world. However, there was once a concept to adapt this formidable aircraft for naval operations, known as the F-22 Sea Raptor. It would have flown from U.S. Navy aircraft carriers.
-While it was an interesting concept with lots of promise, the Navy ultimately decided against it due to technical challenges and cost restraints.
A U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor soars above the United Arab Emirates March 16, 2022. The F-22 Raptors were rapidly deployed on order from the U.S. Secretary of Defense in coordination with the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and have joined a range of joint, coalition, and allied and partner combat airpower capabilities already based across the region. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Christopher Ruano)
Origins of the F-22 Sea Raptor Concept
The F-22 Raptor emerged from the U.S. Air Force’s Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF) program, which aimed to develop a next-generation fighter capable of outperforming advanced Soviet aircraft like the Sukhoi Su-27 and Mikoyan MiG-29. The F-22, with its combination of stealth, supercruise capability, and advanced avionics, was selected over the Northrop YF-23 and entered service in the early 2000s.
In the late 1980s, as the F-22 was being developed, the U.S. Navy was also seeking a new carrier-based fighter to replace its aging fleet of F-14 Tomcats. This led to the consideration of a naval variant of the F-22, known as the NATF-22 (Naval Advanced Tactical Fighter), or more commonly, the Sea Raptor.
What Is the Difference Between a Regular F-22 Raptor and the Sea Raptor?
Adapting the F-22 for aircraft carrier operations required significant modifications to its design. The Sea Raptor would have required a reinforced airframe to withstand the stresses of catapult launches and arrested landings. Unlike the fixed wings of the standard F-22, the Sea Raptor was envisioned with variable-sweep wings, similar to those on the F-14 Tomcat.
This design would allow the wings to sweep back for high-speed flight and extend forward for improved low-speed handling during carrier operations.
To facilitate carrier landings, the Sea Raptor would have been equipped with a tailhook for arrested landings and larger control surfaces for better maneuverability at low speeds. Operating in the harsh maritime environment requires additional measures to prevent corrosion.
The Sea Raptor would have incorporated materials and coatings to protect against saltwater corrosion. The modifications necessary for carrier operations, particularly the variable-sweep wings, would have likely compromised some of the F-22’s stealth characteristics. Maintaining low observability while incorporating these changes posed a significant engineering challenge.
Why the Navy Rejected the F-22 Sea Raptor
Adapting the F-22 for carrier operations required extensive modifications. One of the most significant changes was the incorporation of variable-sweep wings, similar to those on the F-14 Tomcat. This design would allow the wings to sweep back for high-speed flight and extend forward for improved low-speed handling during carrier operations.
However, integrating variable-sweep wings into a stealth aircraft like the F-22 posed substantial engineering challenges.
The complexity of the variable-sweep mechanism, combined with the need to maintain the aircraft’s stealth characteristics, made this a daunting task.
Developing a naval variant of the F-22 was an expensive proposition. The costs associated with redesigning the airframe, testing, and production were deemed prohibitive. The extensive modifications required for carrier operations, such as reinforced landing gear, tailhooks, and corrosion-resistant materials, added to the overall expense. Given the budget constraints of the time, the Navy found it difficult to justify the high costs of the Sea Raptor project.
U.S. Air Force Maj. Paul Lopez, F-22 Demo Team commander, pulls into the vertical during the Battle Creek Field of Flight air show July 7, 2019. Maj. Lopez has over 1,500 hours flying both the F-15 Eagle and the F-22 Raptor and is in his second year as the commander of the F-22 Raptor Demonstration Team. (U.S. Air Force photo by 2nd Lt. Samuel Eckholm).
Around the same time, the Navy was heavily investing in the F-35C, the carrier-based variant of the F-35 Lightning II. The F-35C was designed specifically for carrier operations and offered a more cost-effective solution with advanced stealth and multirole capabilities. The F-35C’s ability to perform a wide range of missions, including strike, reconnaissance, and electronic warfare, made it a more versatile option for the Navy. As a result, the Navy decided to focus its resources on the F-35C program instead of pursuing the Sea Raptor.
Neat Concept, but not what the Navy Needed
The Navy’s operational requirements favored a multirole fighter capable of performing various missions. While the F-22 excelled in air superiority, the Navy needed an aircraft that could also handle strike missions, reconnaissance, and electronic warfare. The F-35C, with its multirole capabilities, was better suited to meet these diverse operational needs.
The Sea Raptor, primarily designed for air superiority, did not align as well with the Navy’s broader mission requirements.
The end of the Cold War and the changing geopolitical landscape influenced military priorities. The focus shifted from preparing for large-scale conflicts with peer adversaries to addressing asymmetric threats and regional conflicts. This shift in strategy reduced the urgency for a carrier-based air superiority fighter like the Sea Raptor.
The Navy’s evolving strategic needs favored more versatile and cost-effective solutions, further diminishing the appeal of the Sea Raptor concept.
U.S. Air Force Capt. Samuel “RaZZ” Larson, F-22 Raptor Demonstration Team commander, performs an aerial maneuver in preparation for the ongoing airshow season at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, July 9, 2024. Airshows play a crucial role in highlighting the importance of air power in modern warfare and help reinforce the deterrence capabilities of advanced fighter aircraft like the F-22 Raptor. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Mikaela Smith)
The F-22 Sea Raptor concept remains an intriguing “what if” in the history of military aviation. While the idea of a naval variant of the F-22 was compelling, the technical, financial, and strategic challenges ultimately led the U.S. Navy to reject the concept in favor of the F-35C.
The Sea Raptor serves as a reminder of the complexities and trade-offs involved in defense acquisition and the ever-evolving nature of military requirements.
About the Author: Isaac Seitz
Isaac Seitz, a 19FortyFive Defense Columnist, graduated from Patrick Henry College’s Strategic Intelligence and National Security program. He has also studied Russian at Middlebury Language Schools and has worked as an intelligence Analyst in the private sector.
