The Air Force plans on flying the F-22 Raptor well into the 2040s. But to remain competitive against near-peer fighter jets, it needs upgrades now and in the future.
The U.S. Air Force operates a plethora of superb fighter jets. With a fleet of several different types of fighter jets, the Air Force knows that it can take on any threat out there. But if there is any particular fighter jet that stands out from the rest, it is certainly the F-22 Raptor.
The F-22 Is the Best Air Superiority Jet in the World
The F-22 is an air superiority fighter jet designed to track and shoot down enemy aircraft. The performance of the stealth fighter jet is outstanding. Powered by two Pratt & Whitney F119-PW-100 turbofan engines, the F-22 can hit speeds of over Mach 2, or more than 1,500 miles per hour; it also has the ability to supercruise, or fly at supersonic speeds without the use of afterburners.
However, the F-22 is best known for its rare ability to change direction mid-flight due to its thrust vectoring nozzles that can rapidly change the direction of propulsion—giving it a major advantage in close air combat against similar aircraft. The fighter jet has an operating ceiling of 50,000 feet.
In terms of munitions, the F-22 can take a wide range of air-to-air and air-to-ground weapon systems. It also packs an M61A2 20-millimeter cannon with 480 rounds for close contact with enemy aircraft.
The F-22 has yet to shoot down any other aircraft. Yet it has consistently racked up lesser combat experience against new threats. In recent months, for instance, the Air Force has deployed F-22 Raptors in the Middle East to combat Iranian aggression against U.S. national security interests in the region. As part of that mission, F-22s have engaged and shot down dozens of Iranian ballistic missiles and suicide drones heading to Israel.
Due to the small number of Raptors and their high costs, the Pentagon has periodically proposed phasing them out of service. The Air Force, however, has not abandoned the F-22 Raptor yet—though it has taken some cajoling from Congress to reach that decision.
Until the F-47 Arrives, the Raptor Will Rule the Roost
Understanding that the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program—now the F-47—would take some time before it was ready for combat, Congress encouraged the Air Force to allocate necessary funds for the update of its F-22 Raptor fleet. The fifth-generation stealth fighter jet, after all, remains the most advanced air superiority fighter jet in the world; in a potential near-peer clash with China or Russia, the F-22 Raptor would be at the forefront of operations.
The Air Force’s update program has focused on both onboard sensors and new tools. In terms of new onboard sensors, the Air Force is outfitting its F-22 Raptor fleet with advanced threat detection capabilities. Lockheed Martin has already conducted more than half a dozen test flights with the new sensors as it gradually incorporates the updates to the operational fleet. Moreover, the Air Force is experimenting with stealth external fuel tanks that would increase the operational range of the stealth fighter jet without significantly impacting its low observability capabilities.
As far as new tools, Air National Guard units flying the F-22 are receiving the Scorpion Helmet Mounted Display (HMD) for their pilots. The HMD is designed to decrease the reaction time of the pilot, and thus their effectiveness downrange. Using full color imaging and advanced navigation and targeting technology, the HMD only makes the F-22 even more deadly in the skies.
The Air Force plans on flying the F-22 Raptor well into the 2040s. But to remain competitive against near-peer fighter jets, it needs upgrades now and in the future.
About the Author: Stavros Atlamazoglou
Stavros Atlamazoglou is a seasoned defense journalist specializing in special operations and a Hellenic Army veteran (national service with the 575th Marine Battalion and Army HQ). He holds a BA from the Johns Hopkins University and an MA from the Johns Hopkins’ School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). His work has been featured in Business Insider, Sandboxx, and SOFREP.
Image: Wikimedia Commons.
