US Budget Proposal Seeks F-22 Raptor Stealth Jet Upgrades to Protect Air Dominance
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Lockheed Martin’s F-22 Raptor fighter jet is confirmed to receive major upgrades under the proposed FY2026 budget plan to ensure its sustained edge in air dominance operations, according to the U.S. Air Force Financial Management and Comptroller. Despite the emergence of sixth-generation designs, the Air Force’s dedicated $90 million budget aims to extend the Raptor’s relevance. This move underscores a broader strategy to protect critical stealth assets against evolving threats from China and Russia. It highlights a firm commitment to bridging the gap until Next Generation Air Dominance systems mature.Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
The planned FY2026 viability upgrade marks a clear signal that the F-22 remains a backbone of U.S. air dominance doctrine (Picture source: U.S. Air Force)
The Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor, categorized as a fifth-generation stealth air superiority fighter, combines advanced low observable (LO) features with supercruise, agility, and integrated avionics. The viability package announced for FY2026 includes a new Infrared Defensive System (IRDS) for improved missile launch detection, dynamic Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) upgrades, strengthened electronic warfare (EW) capabilities, stealth signature refinements, helmet-mounted displays, and possible integration of TacIRST pods. These enhancements aim to reinforce the “first look, first shot, first kill” advantage by preserving stealth while improving threat detection in contested environments.
Operationally, the F-22 program faced earlier cancellations and force reductions but has remained the U.S. Air Force’s elite air superiority asset since it entered service in 2005. The Raptor’s design process pioneered stealth shaping, radar-absorbing materials, and integrated sensor fusion, which still outclass most peer adversaries. Compared to older airframes like the F-15 or even the European Eurofighter Typhoon, the F-22’s survivability and first-shot kill ratio remain unmatched, though maintenance intensity and production limits have constrained fleet size to 185 units, of which only 143 are combat-coded.
Unlike legacy fighters, the F-22’s next upgrade cycle focuses on countering threats like China’s PL-15 long-range missiles and modern IRST-equipped adversaries. Its viability upgrades echo the F-35’s Distributed Aperture System but tailored for the Raptor’s unique LO profile. Compared to Russia’s Su-57 or China’s J-20, the Raptor’s new IRDS and podded IRST will give U.S. pilots an edge in passively tracking stealth targets without revealing their position, while enhanced EW countermeasures shield the aircraft against emerging jamming threats. Strategically, keeping the F-22 fleet viable supports Indo-Pacific deterrence and NATO air dominance until the new F-47 NGAD enters service.
Financially, the FY2026 budget requests $90.34 million as a new-start procurement effort for these upgrades, with a decision on low-rate production of the IRDS system expected by the end of FY2026. Lockheed Martin, the original prime contractor, remains the lead firm, while companies like Thales and LIFT Airborne Technologies contribute critical pilot interface and helmet tech. The last significant Raptor contract was awarded to LIFT in 2022 for the Next Generation Fixed Wing Helmet, signaling sustained industrial activity around the airframe despite its limited production line.
The planned FY2026 viability upgrade marks a clear signal that the F-22 remains a backbone of U.S. air dominance doctrine. As sixth-generation projects advance, investing in proven capabilities like the Raptor buys vital time, counters near-peer advancements, and ensures U.S. air superiority continues to fly with a decisive edge well into the next decade.
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Lockheed Martin’s F-22 Raptor fighter jet is confirmed to receive major upgrades under the proposed FY2026 budget plan to ensure its sustained edge in air dominance operations, according to the U.S. Air Force Financial Management and Comptroller. Despite the emergence of sixth-generation designs, the Air Force’s dedicated $90 million budget aims to extend the Raptor’s relevance. This move underscores a broader strategy to protect critical stealth assets against evolving threats from China and Russia. It highlights a firm commitment to bridging the gap until Next Generation Air Dominance systems mature.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
The planned FY2026 viability upgrade marks a clear signal that the F-22 remains a backbone of U.S. air dominance doctrine (Picture source: U.S. Air Force)
The Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor, categorized as a fifth-generation stealth air superiority fighter, combines advanced low observable (LO) features with supercruise, agility, and integrated avionics. The viability package announced for FY2026 includes a new Infrared Defensive System (IRDS) for improved missile launch detection, dynamic Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) upgrades, strengthened electronic warfare (EW) capabilities, stealth signature refinements, helmet-mounted displays, and possible integration of TacIRST pods. These enhancements aim to reinforce the “first look, first shot, first kill” advantage by preserving stealth while improving threat detection in contested environments.
Operationally, the F-22 program faced earlier cancellations and force reductions but has remained the U.S. Air Force’s elite air superiority asset since it entered service in 2005. The Raptor’s design process pioneered stealth shaping, radar-absorbing materials, and integrated sensor fusion, which still outclass most peer adversaries. Compared to older airframes like the F-15 or even the European Eurofighter Typhoon, the F-22’s survivability and first-shot kill ratio remain unmatched, though maintenance intensity and production limits have constrained fleet size to 185 units, of which only 143 are combat-coded.
Unlike legacy fighters, the F-22’s next upgrade cycle focuses on countering threats like China’s PL-15 long-range missiles and modern IRST-equipped adversaries. Its viability upgrades echo the F-35’s Distributed Aperture System but tailored for the Raptor’s unique LO profile. Compared to Russia’s Su-57 or China’s J-20, the Raptor’s new IRDS and podded IRST will give U.S. pilots an edge in passively tracking stealth targets without revealing their position, while enhanced EW countermeasures shield the aircraft against emerging jamming threats. Strategically, keeping the F-22 fleet viable supports Indo-Pacific deterrence and NATO air dominance until the new F-47 NGAD enters service.
Financially, the FY2026 budget requests $90.34 million as a new-start procurement effort for these upgrades, with a decision on low-rate production of the IRDS system expected by the end of FY2026. Lockheed Martin, the original prime contractor, remains the lead firm, while companies like Thales and LIFT Airborne Technologies contribute critical pilot interface and helmet tech. The last significant Raptor contract was awarded to LIFT in 2022 for the Next Generation Fixed Wing Helmet, signaling sustained industrial activity around the airframe despite its limited production line.
The planned FY2026 viability upgrade marks a clear signal that the F-22 remains a backbone of U.S. air dominance doctrine. As sixth-generation projects advance, investing in proven capabilities like the Raptor buys vital time, counters near-peer advancements, and ensures U.S. air superiority continues to fly with a decisive edge well into the next decade.
