JAKARTA \u2014 The United States is preparing a major upgrade to the F-22\nRaptor stealth fighter through the development of next-generation\nsensors, long-range communications systems and aircraft-to-aircraft\ndata-sharing capabilities. The modernisation, being undertaken by\nLockheed Martin with the US military, is intended to take the F-22\nbeyond the standard capabilities of a fifth-generation fighter while\nmaintaining its relevance as air warfare increasingly depends on\ninformation networks and unmanned aircraft.<\/p>\n
Lockheed Martin chief executive Jim Taiclet disclosed the plan during\nthe company\u2019s third-quarter financial results briefing on 22 October\n2026. He said upgrading the F-22 was one of Lockheed Martin\u2019s three main\npriorities for strengthening US air-combat capabilities, at a cost\nconsidered more efficient than building an entire weapons system from\nscratch.<\/p>\n
Defence Industry Europe reported on Wednesday (28 October 2026) that\nTaiclet was aiming to give the F-22 what is described as \u201cfifth\ngeneration plus\u201d capability. The term refers to enhancements to a\nfifth-generation fighter through new sensor, communications-network and\nsystems-integration technologies, rather than an official\nreclassification as a sixth-generation fighter.<\/p>\n
Taiclet said the programme, being pursued by the advanced development\ndivision Skunk Works, includes sensor upgrades, a distributed aperture\nsystem for all-round observation, data links and beyond-line-of-sight\ncommunications. These capabilities will complement the technologies the\nF-22 has had since its initial development.<\/p>\n
The modernisation is primarily intended to strengthen the F-22\u2019s\nability to detect threats, understand the combat situation and share\ninformation with other aircraft and military systems. Under this\napproach, a fighter\u2019s capabilities are determined not only by its speed,\nagility or weapons, but also by how quickly it can obtain and use\ninformation in a joint operation.<\/p>\n
Taiclet said the upgrades were part of the company\u2019s strategy to\nintegrate technologies previously developed separately. Lockheed Martin\nis seeking to draw on sensors, communications equipment and control\nsystems from across its divisions to enhance existing military\nplatforms.<\/p>\n
However, Lockheed Martin\u2019s chief executive has not announced a\ntimetable for introducing all the new technologies across the F-22\nfleet. Nor has he disclosed the total contract value, detailed\nperformance specifications or a complete list of equipment to be\ninstalled under the ongoing modernisation programme.<\/p>\n
Why Does the F-22 Raptor Need Modernising?<\/p>\n
The F-22 Raptor is a fifth-generation stealth fighter developed by\nLockheed Martin in partnership with Boeing for the US Air Force. It was\ndesigned primarily to achieve air superiority \u2014 the ability to control\nairspace and engage enemy aircraft in a high-threat combat\nenvironment.<\/p>\n
The F-22\u2019s main advantages lie in its combination of stealth\ntechnology, the ability to fly supersonically without continuously using\nafterburners (supercruise), manoeuvrability, and integrated sensors and\nweapons. Together, these features allow it to detect, identify and\nattack aerial threats while seeking to reduce the likelihood of being\ndetected by adversaries.<\/p>\n
But advances in air-weapons technology mean these advantages must be\ncontinually updated. Modern radars, long-range air-to-air missiles,\nelectronic warfare systems and integrated air-defence networks require\nfighter aircraft to have increasingly sophisticated surveillance and\ncommunications capabilities.<\/p>\n
The F-22 is not a new aircraft. The US Air Force officially began\noperating it in 2005, and production ended after the final aircraft left\nthe assembly line in December 2011. A total of 187 F-22s were built for\nthe US operational fleet, and there is no active production line for\nbuilding large numbers of new aircraft.<\/p>\n
This makes modernisation one way to preserve the capabilities of the\nlimited F-22 fleet. While the next generation of fighter aircraft\nremains under development, the F-22\u2019s capabilities must be maintained so\nit can meet evolving threats and support air operations alongside other\naircraft.<\/p>\n
The US government has in fact been upgrading the F-22\u2019s capabilities\nfor years. Previous improvements have covered its radar, weapons,\nsoftware and communications, as well as its ability to withstand\nincreasingly advanced aerial threats.<\/p>\n
Taiclet\u2019s remarks, however, point to a broader direction for\nmodernisation. Lockheed Martin is not merely upgrading individual\ncomponents; it is also seeking to make the F-22 part of an air-combat\nnetwork able to operate alongside other fighter aircraft and autonomous\nsystems.<\/p>\n
New Sensor Worth US$270 Million<\/p>\n
One important development in the F-22\u2019s modernisation is the\ndevelopment of a new-generation infrared sensor system. On 22 January\n2025, Lockheed Martin announced that it had received a US$270 million\ncontract from the US Air Force to integrate an Infrared Defensive System\n(IRDS) into the F-22 Raptor.<\/p>\n
The system uses TacIRST sensors developed by Lockheed Martin and\ndistributed across the aircraft\u2019s airframe. The technology is designed\nto improve threat detection through infrared observation, including\nhelping pilots identify the possible approach of enemy missiles.<\/p>\n
Infrared sensors have different characteristics from radar. While\nactive radar emits electromagnetic waves and processes their\nreflections, infrared sensors detect heat radiation from objects,\nincluding aircraft engines and other heat sources.<\/p>\n
In certain situations, infrared surveillance can provide additional\ninformation about threats without relying entirely on active radar.\nIntegrating multiple sensors allows the aircraft\u2019s systems to provide\npilots with a more complete picture of the combat situation.<\/p>\n
The distributed aperture system Taiclet referred to is related to the\napproach of placing sensors in several parts of the aircraft to broaden\nits field of observation. Such technology is expected to reduce the\nlimitations of viewing from a single direction and help pilots detect\nthreats around the aircraft.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, Lockheed Martin has not confirmed that all the\ntechnologies Taiclet mentioned on 22 October are identical to the\nsystems covered by the US$270 million IRDS contract. The contract is\nconcrete evidence of ongoing F-22 sensor modernisation, but it should\nnot be treated as the total value of the fifth-generation-plus\nprogramme.<\/p>\n
The company has also not published operational test results showing\nhow much the new technology improves detection or the F-22\u2019s success in\nengaging enemy aircraft and missiles. The promised capability\nimprovements therefore need to be distinguished from performance already\nproven in operations.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/us-prepares-fifth-generation-plus-f-22-raptor-as-combat-technology-set-to-change-1793163172", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }