Does the F-22 Raptor Have Beast Mode?

The F-22 Raptor does not have a beast mode like the F-35, according to a search of open-source defense news, but the Raptor is considered by some pilots to be a “beast” in aerial combat all the same.
Can the F-22 also go into 'Beast Mode'? While “beast mode” is a description, not a technical term, it refers to a fighter plane that is carrying more than its usual or standard array of weapons.
The F-35 Lightning II does have a weapons-heavy beast mode that has around four times the ordnance of regular stealth mode or 22,000-pounds of munitions.
Meanwhile, the F-22 Raptor is more reliant on its basic stealth technology for training in “high-end combat scenarios.”
The F-22 does not have a beast mode like the F-35, according to a search of open-source defense news, but the Raptor is considered by some pilots to be a “beast” in aerial combat all the same.
The Air Force was even proud enough to feature the F-22 in a recruiting ad that runs before Hollywood’s new Top Gun sequel.
What Is Beast Mode?
Beast mode is envisioned by Air Force war planners to be a “Day Three” attack configuration in an offensive operation.
This means the F-35 would drop or fire extra ordnance after the Air Force and Navy first acquires air superiority and achieves suppression of enemy anti-aircraft defenses.
The F-35 would have extra bombs and missiles loaded on hardpoints under its wings – less stealthy, but more powerful.
The F-22, due to its highly-maneuverable stealth airframe, is envisioned as a “Day One” fighter that could escort the B-2 bomber or, someday, the B-21 bomber on the first day of conflict, penetrate radar and destroy enemy surface-to-air missiles to clear the way for F-35 beast mode.
Rehearse Likely Offensive Scenarios Early in a Conflict
The Air Force and Navy have practiced this type of attack configuration before and the concept of operations is something that could become a standard order of battle in a future conflict in East Asia.
Some Pilots View the F-22 in Wonder
The F-22 itself is a flying marvel according to some aviators.
A few years back, Task and Purpose web magazine shared pilot reactions from an interview on a podcast. Retired Air Force Colonel Terry “Stretch” Scott flew the F-22 during his career and related how potent the airplane is. “The flight controls … are phenomenal,” Scott said. “The original operator’s manual actually read ‘you may fly this aircraft with reckless abandon,’” he recalled.
The agility of the Raptor Is Unforgettable
“Having come from a fourth-generation background, it’s eye-watering how nimble the jet is,” said Scott, a former F-15 pilot. “Even when I’m flying offensive against another Raptor, that airplane is eye-watering when it starts maneuvering visually.”
The F-22 Is Beast Mode
So, according to these Air Force pilots, the F-22 is always a “beast” due to its stealth characteristics and maneuverability. It’s good the Air Force envisions working as a team with F-35s and stealth bombers. The Day One – Day Three designation is interesting and shows the military is planning for a hard-to-kill enemy defense configuration.
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