Ace Combat 7 F-22A Raptor: Aircraft Tree Unlock and Best Weapons

Ace Combat 7 F-22A Raptor costs 920,000 MRP in the main campaign’s Aircraft Tree, and you must first purchase either the F-15E Strike Eagle or F-35C Lightning II to reach it. That is a lot of points, but the Raptor gives you excellent air-combat performance and three useful special weapon options.

If you’re saving for the F-22A, plan your branch before spending. The aircraft itself is only part of the cost, and the weapon you choose changes how useful it will be against fighters, drones or ground targets. Here’s how to unlock it without getting sidetracked by the wrong aircraft path.

Ace Combat 7 F-22A Raptor unlock requirements

• Open the Aircraft Tree from the hangar during the main campaign.
• Follow the late-game aircraft branch towards either the F-15E Strike Eagle or the F-35C Lightning II.
• Buy one of those two prerequisite aircraft to open the connected F-22A node.
• Save 920,000 MRP for the F-22A itself.
• Purchase it, then choose your special weapon and compatible parts in the hangar.

You do not need both prerequisite aircraft. Buying either qualifying plane is enough for the connection, provided you have also purchased the earlier nodes on your chosen route. The exact total cost from your current position depends on which branch you’ve already unlocked.

The Ace Combat 7 F-22A Raptor is part of the core Aircraft Tree. It is not a separately purchased DLC jet, so earning MRP and reaching its node is the normal unlock route.

How much does the Ace Combat 7 F-22A Raptor cost?

The final figure covers the F-22A and its additional weapons, but excludes every prerequisite aircraft and intervening upgrade part. If you’re still working your way through the tree, make sure you have enough MRP for the branch as well as the Raptor itself.

Ace Combat 7 F-22A Raptor special weapons

QAAM is the first weapon available on the F-22A. This highly manoeuvrable air-to-air missile is helpful against fighters that won’t stay in a normal lock for long. It is a good default when the next mission revolves around dogfighting.

XSDB stands for an advanced small-diameter bomb loadout. It lets the Raptor do useful work against ground targets instead of functioning only as an air-superiority fighter. You’ll need to purchase this extra weapon in the Aircraft Tree.

8AAM offers multiple air-to-air locks and suits missions with groups of enemy planes. It is useful when you can arrange a clean approach to several targets, but it is not automatically better than QAAM in a tight fight against a single agile enemy.

The Ace Combat 7 F-22A Raptor can equip only one of these special weapons for a sortie. Check the briefing first, then choose the weapon that matches the real targets rather than selecting the most impressive-looking icon.

Is the F-22A good for the campaign and Ace difficulty?

Yes, especially in aerial combat. It is fast, agile and has the handling to make challenging fighter encounters more manageable once you’re comfortable with it. It is one of the strongest core-game aircraft to aim for when building a late-campaign hangar.

There are limits. For a ship-heavy sortie such as Fleet Destruction, a dedicated anti-ship weapon on another aircraft can be easier to use. Similarly, a well-equipped multirole plane may deal with mixed objectives more efficiently. The F-22A is excellent, but a mission-appropriate loadout still matters.

If you’re trying for S ranks on Ace difficulty, focus on reliably finishing objectives. Taking an extra minute to master your new plane in a familiar Free Mission is better than switching at the start of a hard S-rank attempt and repeatedly overshooting the target.

Can the Ace Combat 7 F-22A Raptor perform a Kulbit?

Yes. The F-22A supports full post-stall manoeuvres, including a Kulbit, when you slow down and use the correct throttle, brake and pitch inputs. That doesn’t make it invulnerable: attempting an advanced manoeuvre near the ground or in the middle of missile fire can end badly.

Practise these moves high above the terrain. If you’re new to PSM, learn the Cobra first so you know how to recover the aircraft after the nose pitches sharply upward.

Ace Combat 7 F-22A Raptor skins and customisation

The Raptor has several visual skins, including an Erusean skin earned by getting an S rank on all standard campaign missions on Hard and a Special skin tied to defeating the hidden Ace TEMPEST. Other liveries have been released as DLC or free updates, so your available list depends on the content you have installed.

Skins change the appearance of your aircraft rather than providing hidden performance buffs. For speed or missile improvements, spend MRP on the compatible parts available in your Aircraft Tree.

Ace Combat 7 F-22A Raptor not appearing in your hangar?

• If it is visible but locked, check that you purchased an F-15E or F-35C and the connecting prerequisites.
• If it is available but unaffordable, you need 920,000 MRP for the aircraft alone.
• If XSDB or 8AAM are missing, purchase those additional special weapons separately.
• If a skin is missing, check its own unlock requirement or DLC ownership.

The Ace Combat 7 F-22A Raptor is a worthwhile long-term goal, but there’s no need to rush it while you’re still learning the opening missions. Progress through the campaign, work towards your chosen branch and unlock the extra weapon that makes the most sense for what you play.

Our Ace Combat 7 Aircraft Tree explains the branching purchase system, and Ace Combat 7 MRP Farming covers ways to earn the points you need.

Official source: Bandai Namco official Ace Combat 7 aircraft catalogue.