Darin Whitehead Yeah not only can it carry more than you think but the reason it looks like there is less weaponry and the reason why is more because this was a type of stealth fighter, it was never meant to replace the F18. Thats why they keep both as well as others for different tactics in different operations.
@@unlockingsnow8571 Originally, the F-22 was meant to replace the F-15C as the USAF's air superiority fighter, but it's really expensive, so only 187 were built, and the F-15C is still in service as a supplemental (albeit more numerous) force. The F-22 picked up significant ground attack capabilities during development, as well. Normally you don't see the weapons it's carrying (neither missiles nor bombs) because, being a stealth fighter, the F-22 carries them all internally. However, in a more "permissive" environment (with the enemy air force and air defenses knocked out), the F-22 can carry additional weapons under its wings: there are four hardpoints (two under each wing) that are wired for the use of smart weapons and plumbed for external fuel tanks. Each hardpoint is capable of carrying up to 5000 lbs, which when added to the payload in the internal bays, gives the F-22 an impressive maximum ordnance load of well over 20000 lbs. It actually may not currently be programmed to carry and use external weapons, but physically it is designed and equipped to do so, so making it capable of such would be relatively simple (software update and no physical modifications).
Each of the two side bays can and always does carry a single AIM-9X (Sidewinder) HOBS dogfighting missile in case the F-22 somehow finds itself in a dogfight. The current AIM-9X variant also has enough range to supplement the AIM-120D AMRAAMs carried in the main bays. Each of the two main bays can carry either three AIM-120Ds or one AIM-120D plus a bomb rack. Each bomb rack can carry either one GBU-32 1000-lb JDAM, one GBU-38 500-lb JDAM, four GBU-39 SDBs (small-diameter bombs), or four GBU-53 StormBreakers (advanced SDB II variant with a multi-mode imaging seeker). The F-22 also always carries an M61A2 Vulcan rotary (Gatling-like) cannon (firing rate of 6600 rounds per second) with 480 rounds for if/when things get *really* cozy.
