How much fuel does the F-22 Raptor really carry? The numbers explained
The F-22 Raptor carries 18,000 lb of fuel internally to preserve its stealth profile. Here's how its fuel system works, its combat radius, and how drop tanks extend its range.
- Jun 23, 2026,
- Updated Jun 23, 2026 3:28 PM IST
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The F-22 Raptor carries 18,000 lb (8,200 kg) of fuel internally — keeping the entire supply sealed deep within its airframe to help preserve the fighter's near-zero radar signature during combat missions.
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The internal fuel tanks are located in the aircraft's fuselage and wings, distributing weight carefully across the airframe to maintain balance during high-G manoeuvres and supersonic flight.
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In its fully loaded internal configuration, the F-22 carries 18,000 lb (8,200 kg) of fuel, enabling sustained supersonic cruise — up to Mach 1.8 without afterburners.
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On internal fuel alone, the F-22 has a combat radius of over 500 miles (800 kilometers) — enough to strike deep into contested airspace and return without refuelling.
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The F-22 has four under-wing hardpoints, each capable of carrying a 600-gallon external fuel tank, used specifically for ferry flights when extra range is needed and no weapons are carried externally.
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With 18,000 lb of internal fuel plus two external tanks, the jet's ferry range extends to over 1,600 nautical miles (2,960 km) — but external tanks compromise the very stealth the F-22 is built around.