F-22 fleet is getting upgraded threat-detection sensors to stay on top

While the Air Force’s Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program is frozen pending a Pentagon review of its capabilities and cost, the branch continues to invest in the F-22 Raptor.

America’s primary air superiority aircraft, the F-22 Raptor, has reached 20 years of service this year. And to remain a leader in the skies, it needs to have the necessary modern systems.

In January, the Air Force awarded Lockheed Martin a $270 million contract to upgrade the ageing fleet of F-22 Raptors with cutting-edge infrared threat-detection sensors.

Through the upgrades, the Air Force aims to increase the F-22 Raptor’s survivability and lethality. Specifically, the new sensors will bring the F-22 fleet up-to-date with the current operational environment and allow the stealth fighter jet to remain competitive in the years to come.

“We understand the need for advanced and versatile infrared systems like [Infrared Defensive System (IRDS) that will make pilots’ missions more survivable and lethal against current and future adversaries,” Hank Tucker, vice president of Missions Systems at Lockheed Martin said in a press release.

“We’re committed to supporting the Air Force through continuous innovation of capabilities to deter and defeat evolving threats,” Tucker added.

Known for its impressive maneuverability, stealth characteristics, and supercruise abilities, the F-22 Raptor has almost no match in air-to-air combat.

“Lockheed Martin is proud to continue partnering with the Air Force on essential modernization efforts for the Raptor, leveraging our expertise in 5th Generation aircraft and air dominance systems to integrate capabilities that ensure uninterrupted U.S. air superiority today and into the future,” Justin Taylor, vice president of the F-22 program at Lockheed Martin, stated.

The upgrades are part of a larger effort to modernize the F-22 fleet. In 2019, the Air Force awarded Lockheed Martin a $7 billion, five-year contract to sustain the fleet.

However, due to a lack of spare parts, F-22s often face maintenance issues. These issues are so acute that sometimes Air Force technicians have to “cannibalize” older aircraft for spare parts to ensure that the fleet continues to fly.

Today, there are probably less than 100 F-22 stealth fighter jets fully operational, although the Air Force is correctly keeping the exact number classified.

Related: Just how good would an F-22/F-35 hybrid fighter really be?

The F-22 that never was

An F-22 Raptor assigned to the 477th Fighter Group at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson prepares for takeoff on Jan. 7, 2023. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Erica Webster)

The F-22 Raptor will go down in history as a “what if: project.

During the design and production phase, the Air Force envisioned a fleet of 750 F-22 Raptors that would ensure U.S. superiority for decades to come. However, shortly after the F-22 Raptor made its operational debut in 2005, the F-35 Lightning II program started picking up speed.

So, Congress decided to allocate funds and production capabilities to the emerging stealth fighter jet to the detriment of the F-22 Raptor. Lockheed Martin shut down the F-22 production at 186 aircraft and reallocated its resources to the F-35. The air superiority fighter jet that would dominate the skies for decades was shunned to the sidelines.

To be sure, the F-22 Raptor is the tip of the spear of American air superiority today. But, the plan was for the F-22 to be the entire spear – tip and shaft – and not rely on fourth-generation aircraft for support.

Feature Image: U.S. Air Force Airmen marshal F-22 Raptors assigned to Elmendorf Air Force Base (AFB) to a stop at Nellis AFB, Jan. 31, 2024. The F-22 possess a sophisticated sensor suite, allowing the pilot to track, identify, shoot and kill air-to-air threats before detection. The aircraft is a critical component of the Global Strike Task Force and boasts a combination of sophisticated sensor capability, integrated avionics and tactical weaponry. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Elizabeth Tan)

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