Trump proposed upgrading the F-35 to a twin-engine F-55 and modernizing the F-22 to a “Super” F-22. Aviation experts question the feasibility of these upgrades.
While speaking on Thursday in Doha, Qatar, President Donald Trump proposed an upgraded version of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, and a “Super” version of the F-22.
“We’re going to do an F-55 and—I think, if we get the right price, we have to get the right price—that’ll be two engines and a super upgrade on the F-35, and then we’re going to do the F-22,” Trump explained, adding, “I think the most beautiful fighter jet in the world is the F-22 but we’re going to do an F-22 Super and it’ll be a very modern version of the F-22 fighter jet,” Trump suggested.
He added, “We’ll be going with it pretty quickly.”
In March, aerospace giant Boeing was awarded a contract to produce the sixth-generation manned fighter that is the centerpiece of the United States Air Force’s Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program.
It has called for a system of systems, including unmanned drones and greater network capabilities. The future Boeing F-47 is also intended to replace the F-22.
The F-55: A Twin Engine of the F-35
The key difference for the F-55 is that it would be a twin-engine variant, powered by two Pratt and Whitney F135 engines.
“That’s going to be a substantial upgrade, but it’s also going to be with two engines, because an F-35 has a single engine. I don’t like single engines,” Trump explained to U.S. military personnel at al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar.
The initial contract for the Joint Strike Fighter called for a single engine, which was considered more efficient and cost-effective than using two smaller engines. Aviation experts have noted that maintaining a single engine can be less complex and reduce the overall cost for the program. It is unclear how two F135 engines could be employed on the airframe without substantial redesigns.
As Newsweek reported, twin engines increase the safety “in the event of [an engine] failure.” At the same time, “two engines would also provide more thrust, which is better for flying at high altitudes and carrying heavier cargo.”
The tradeoff is that most “twin-engine aircraft are typically heavier and larger than single-engine models.” The aircraft also tends to be more expensive to produce and maintain.
Can the U.S. Military Afford an Upgraded F-35?
Numerous unanswered questions remain, including the issue of funding and how upgrading the F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II fits into other programs.
Agency Partners aerospace analyst Nick Cunningham told Reuters that the F-55 could be part of the U.S. Navy’s F/A-XX program, which seeks to find a replacement for the Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet.
However, Lockheed Martin was eliminated from that competition earlier this year, leaving only Boeing and Northrop Grumman in the running. Boeing also won the aforementioned NGAD contract over rival Lockheed Martin.
However, in an earnings call with analysts last month, Lockheed Martin CEO Jim Taiclet suggested that the company will introduce some of the technology it developed for the NGAD on an improved F-35, resulting in what Taiclet said would be a “fifth-generation-plus” aircraft.
That would still be a far cry from a twin-engine F-55, so it is unclear if the idea for an upgraded Lightning II came from the aerospace giant or the White House.
About the Author: Peter Suciu
Peter Suciu has contributed over 3,200 published pieces to more than four dozen magazines and websites over a thirty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].
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