The best way to determine the capability of the F-22 would be to send it into a full scale war and see how it does. That would be effective, but clearly isn’t practical.
Three program tools that are credible representations of the 'real world' are used, including the use of computers to simulate war.
Modeling
Through "war gaming," aircraft evaluators can create a "crucible of war" on computers.
Once reserved for hobbyists, war gaming has become a sophisticated simulation that allows modeling of enemy and friendly weapons and tactics.
Once modeled, virtually unlimited numbers of aircraft, missiles, guns and radars can be added to hypothetical scenarios.
The F-22 can be flown through this computerized combat zone at relatively little cost and over a short period of time. Many scenarios can be explored and statistical results obtained. More than 10,000 of these runs can be made per day.
So far, more than a million simulated ‘battles’ have been fought using these models of reality.
But these tests don’t include the human element.
Simulators
Enter the simulators, where real pilots participate in the evaluations.
The F-22 program uses two simulators, one in Marietta, Ga., and the other in Fort Worth, Texas, to study the effectiveness of the F-22 using real pilots. These simulators combine some of the advantages of war gaming (the large number of enemy aircraft, defenses, and targets) with the variability and unpredictable nature of the human operator.
In the air combat simulator, up to 12 F-22 pilots flying simulated F-22s and enemy aircraft can fight each other. Ground-controlled intercepts can be directed by four human operators, and the computers can model as many as 80 other aircraft and 80 surface to air missiles can join in this air battle.
While a step closer to reality, the Air Combat Simulator still uses a model of the F-22 and, except for the 16 human operators, all other airplanes and defenses are computer models of what human operators would do.
Flight test
The F-22 represents the real world. The aircraft's sensors, performance, stealth, supercruise and pilot’s performance will be what will really enter the combat fight.
Because it is not possible to actually test the F-22 against a large numbers of enemy aircraft and defenses, the flight testing verifies the modeling and simulation predictions.
Synthesis of the Tools
The three tools represent a spectrum of decreasing battlefield complexity but an increasing involvement of humans and real hardware. Interestingly, no single tool can be used to ascertain F-22 effectiveness as each is in some way, 'limited.' The problem is one of establishing a credible simulation of warfare.
To do this, several simplified scenarios will be flown in each of the three tools and results compared.
The modeling and simulations will be 'tweaked' until they match the real F-22's capabilities.
Information from the web sites of Lockheed Martin, Boeing and Pratt & Whitney were used in this story.