The US Air Force plans on equipping the F-22 Raptor with substantial upgrades to ensure that the fighter continues to outperform its competitors.
The US-made F-22 Raptor is the most powerful aircraft in the world. As the first ever fifth-generation platform, the cutting-edge fighter continues to dominate in terms of speed, stealth, and avionics. While the Air Force is gearing up to introduce its Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) “ family of systems” in the near future, it is also ensuring its existing Raptor fleet retains an edge over its competitors. Specifically, the service’s remaining F-22s are set to be equipped with a slew of new “viability” upgrades so that they can more effectively protect against emerging threats. According to The War Zone, this enhancement package includes the Infrared Defensive System, new stealth coatings, and improvements for its AN/APG-77 radar. These planned upgrades are detailed in the Air Force’s recently released budget request for Fiscal Year 2025.
What Are the Capabilities of the F-22 Raptor?
The F-22 is a well-respected aircraft among military experts and aviation buffs alike. As the first fighter to combine stealth, supercruise, and supermaneuverability in a singular platform, the F-22 is truly one of a kind. Out of all of the jets’ unmatched capabilities, the Raptor’s small radar cross-section is arguably the most significant. Notably, the Raptor is approximately five to 10 times less observable than its F-35 Lightning II successor. This impressive feature is perhaps best described by former Raptor pilot Lt. Col. Kevin “Showtime” Shutterfield, who has recounted how he was able to take the Raptor he was piloting right up to an Iranian jet entirely undetected during an incident back in 2013. As detailed by Shutterfield, he flew below the enemy fighter to inspect its ordnance load, then pulled up alongside it to infamously warn its pilot, “You really ought to go home.”
In terms of speed, the F-22 is also quite impressive. With a top speed of Mach 1.9 (1,457 mph), the F-22 can outpace all near-peers in the skies. The platform is powered by twin thrust-vectoring F119 turbofan engines. The F-22 is also a solid dogfighter, able to carry a range of air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons, including precision-guided bombs like the Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM) and AIM-120 and AIM-9 Sidewinders.
The US Air Force Is Already Developing the Raptor’s Successor
While the F-22 is top-notch, the Air Force is developing the platform’s successor. When the F-47 sixth-generation fighter series enters service down the line, the “family of systems” will host all the latest and greatest technologies in addition to featuring both a manned and unmanned component. Specifically, NGAD is planned to incorporate a fighter and a mass of Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCAs) that will serve the jets as loyal drone wingmen. The inclusion of drones in the NGAD proposal is designed to lower the overall cost of the project.
About the Author: Maya Carlin
Maya Carlin, National Security Writer with The National Interest, is an analyst with the Center for Security Policy and a former Anna Sobol Levy Fellow at IDC Herzliya in Israel. She has bylines in many publications, including The National Interest, The Jerusalem Post, and The Times of Israel. You can follow her on Twitter: @MayaCarlin.
Image: Wikimedia Commons.
