F-22 Raptor Modernization Aims to Counter Emerging Threats

As the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program faces delays, the U.S. Air Force is investing heavily in upgrading its existing F-22 Raptor fleet to maintain air superiority against increasingly sophisticated adversaries such as China and Russia.

Critical Upgrades for a Vital Platform

The Pentagon’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2026 allocates $90 million to integrate cutting-edge technology into the F-22 Raptor, which has been in service for two decades. Defense officials view these modernizations as essential for bridging the gap until the next-generation F-47 aircraft are ready.

Maintaining air superiority is a top priority, especially in the Pacific region. Modernizing the 143 operational F-22 aircraft is seen as a necessary investment to counter evolving threats, according to budget documents.

The upgrade package focuses on enhancing the Raptor’s combat survivability. Key components include a new infrared defensive system (IRDS) designed to detect long-range missile launches, such as the PL-15 air-to-air missile, which has spurred the U.S. to accelerate its missile defense programs.

Passive Sensors are Key

The Air Force seeks to enhance the stealth fighter’s ability to engage enemies it cannot visually acquire without revealing its position. The solution involves passive sensors, including the IRDS and an infrared search and tracking (IRST) sensor mounted on a platform.

These sensors enable pilots to detect the thermal signatures of enemy aircraft and missiles without using radar, thus preserving the Raptor’s stealth capabilities.

Additional Enhancements

Further upgrades include improvements to stealth features, radar modernization, a new electronic warfare suite, and a modern pilot-vehicle interface featuring an advanced helmet. Even the external fuel tanks are being redesigned to reduce their detectability, addressing the Raptor’s limited range in the vast Pacific theater.

The Future of Air Dominance

While **Lockheed Martin**, the F-22’s manufacturer, benefits from this contract, the Pentagon is relying on **Boeing** to develop the future U.S. Air Force’s next-generation aircraft. The 2026 budget proposal allocates $3.5 billion to the NGAD program, designated F-47. The Air Force’s focus has sidelined the Navy’s similar F/A-XX program.

This decision solidifies the Air Force’s vision for aerial supremacy, positioning the F-22 as a critical asset for the interim. As of 2024, the U.S. Air Force possesses 183 F-22 Raptors, but only around 125 are considered combat-ready. (Air & Space Forces Magazine)

With plans to keep the F-22 in service until the 2040s, these upgrades are essential for maintaining U.S. air supremacy until a sufficient number of F-47 aircraft are deployed, a process that could take over a decade. The F-22’s retirement is postponed indefinitely, as its mission is far from complete.