In the early 1980's, the United States Air Force decided that the successor to the excellent but aging F-15 Eagle must be capable of operating in the face of advanced air defense systems without incurring unacceptable losses. It must also, like the Eagle, be a superb dogfighter and radar missile platform. Thus, the idea of the Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF) was born, and it was to put into practice the emerging technologies of stealth and supersonic cruise. Stealth, as demonstrated by the F-117A Nighthawk, is invaluable in evading detection by the enemy and adds significantly to an aircraft's survivability. The ability to detect before being detected will make the difference between life and death in future air combat. Supersonic cruise (or "supercruise") is the ability of an aircraft to fly at supersonic speeds without the use of afterburners. Other aircraft are forced to consume large quantities of fuel in their afterburners to achieve supersonic speeds. The ATF could fly supersonic while conserving fuel, considerably extending its quick-intercept range and sustained high-speed endurance over previous generation aircraft. Because speed and stealth together serve to defeat surface-to-air missiles, the ATF's combination of sustained speed and low observability will allow it to operate in the high-tech battlefield of the future. Two competing groups built ATF prototypes, and in April 1991 the YF-22A design from Lockheed, Boeing, and General Dynamics was selected over its rival the Northrop YF-23A which appeared to be a stealthier and possibly faster design, but lacked the vectoring nozzles of the YF-22A and carried a higher price tag. The production F-22A is expected to contain a 'Pilot's Associate' system that uses artificial intelligence to monitor systems, situations, and threats, advising the pilot on a need-to-know basis. It is possible that the F-22A will incorporate post-stall flight envelope technology from the X-31 Enhanced Fighter Maneuverability project. The F-22A is expected to enter service in 2002, but only if it can receive the necessary funding in these days of shrinking military budgets. The US Navy is looking to purchase a successor to the F-14 Tomcat, and a swing-wing version of the F-22 might be in the making, but this will prove problematic given budgetary constraints and the reduction of the Soviet/Russian threat.
