Key Point and the Secret Reason the F-22 Super Is Needed: Written off a few years ago, the F-22 Raptor is getting a major revival to bridge the gap until the F-47 (NGAD) arrives.
-A $7.8B plan adds IR defensive sensors, upgraded radar/EW, tougher stealth coatings, helmet displays, SAR targeting, cyber hardening, and tablet-based control for Collaborative Combat Aircraft “loyal wingmen.”
An F-22 Raptor performs an aerial demonstration at Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia, Sept. 19, 2025. During the demonstration, the aircraft can reach speeds up to 723 miles per hour, showcasing the incredible power and precision of its twin Pratt & Whitney F119 engines. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Lauren Cobin)
-The Air Force may also convert 32 Block 20 trainers into combat-ready jets, lifting the fleet to roughly 175.
-Despite high sustainment costs, performance-based logistics and new mods aim to extend life and reliability—keeping America’s premier air-to-air platform relevant as China and Russia field advanced fighters.
F-22 Raptor 2.0: How the Air Force Is Making a Legend New Again
Several years ago, the F-22 Raptor was all but written off for retirement.
The fighter, according to some, had outlived its usefulness, and with production lines shut down, the F-22 was destined for the scrap yards.
However, amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and China’s recent advances in aerospace, the U.S. has reevaluated the Raptor and determined that the fighter remains useful in this environment.
Now, modernizing the F-22 is one of the Air Force’s top priorities. In fact, many in the expert community call these upgrades an effort to create an F-22 ‘Super’ fighter of sorts.
These modernized versions are intended to act as a hedge in case the F-47 experiences delays.
NGAD F-47 Fighter. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
Keeping the Raptor Relevant
The modernization of the F-22 involves a comprehensive suite of technological upgrades to enhance its combat capabilities.
Among the most significant enhancements is the integration of an Infrared Defensive System (IRDS), which improves the aircraft’s ability to detect and evade infrared-guided missiles.
Advanced radar and electronic warfare suites are also being added to improve detection, jamming resistance, and situational awareness. Stealth coating enhancements are being applied to maintain low observability against evolving radar technologies.
Additionally, helmet-mounted displays and improved pilot vehicle interfaces are finally being introduced to enhance pilot situational awareness and control.
Other upgrades include synthetic-aperture radar for improved targeting precision and cybersecurity enhancements to protect against digital threats.
These upgrades are part of a broader $7.8 billion investment plan through 2030, which includes $3.1 billion for research and development and $4.7 billion for procurement.
One of the project’s biggest priorities is to integrate manned-unmanned teaming through the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) initiative.
The Raptor is set to become the first stealth jet to control “loyal wingman” drones, which will perform high-risk tasks such as intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR), electronic warfare, and strike missions.
A U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor assigned to Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, takes off during Checkered Flag 23-1 at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, Nov. 4, 2022. Checkered Flag is a large-force aerial exercise which fosters readiness and interoperability through the incorporation of 4th and 5th-generation aircraft during air-to-air combat training. The 23-1 iteration of the exercise was held Oct. 31 – Nov. 10, 2022. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Betty R. Chevalier)
These drones will extend the F-22’s reach and survivability, enabling it to operate more effectively in contested environments.
Tablet-based control systems and secure data links are being integrated into the cockpit to facilitate this capability, marking a significant step toward manned-unmanned teaming in air combat.
Another critical aspect of the modernization effort is the potential revival of 32 Block 20 F-22s, which were originally non-combat training variants.
The Air Force is considering upgrading these aircraft to combat-ready status, which would increase the operational fleet from 143 to potentially 175 jets.
This decision is partly driven by repeated Congressional refusals to retire these jets, combined with the urgent need for more fifth-generation fighters amid global tensions.
Upgrading these aircraft involves modernizing avionics, sensor fusion, and weapons compatibility, effectively transforming them into frontline assets.
Waiting for the F-47
The changing geopolitical landscape has been a major driver of these changes.
The rise of China and Russia as near-peer competitors has reignited the need for advanced air superiority platforms.
China’s development of stealth fighters like the J-20 and J-35, along with its sixth-generation platforms like the J-50 and J-36 presents direct challenges to U.S. air superiority.
J-35 Fighter. Image Credit: Chinese State Media.
These aircraft are designed to contest American air power in regions like the Indo-Pacific and Eastern Europe, where tensions are escalating.
In response, the U.S. Air Force has re-evaluated the F-22’s role, now considering it a critical asset for countering these adversaries. The Raptor’s unmatched agility, stealth, and supercruise capabilities make it uniquely suited for missions in contested environments.
The biggest reason for modernizing the F-22, however, is to bridge the gap between current capabilities and the future F-47.
Born from the NGAD program, the F-47 promises revolutionary capabilities but is still years away from full deployment.
Given the complexity and cost of F-47, it will not be fielded in large numbers quickly. Therefore, the F-22 serves as a vital interim solution, maintaining air superiority until F-47 is operational.
This transitional role has elevated the F-22’s priority within the Air Force, with acquisition chief Andrew Hunter recently describing it as the service’s “highest priority” in the near term for great power competition.
The U.S. Still Needs the F-22
Despite its age, the F-22 remains unmatched in air-to-air combat. Its supercruise capability, thrust-vectoring engines, and stealth design still give it an edge over most adversaries.
However, its maintenance costs are among the highest in the fleet, estimated at $44,000 per flight hour.
An F-22 Raptor approaches to receive fuel from a KC-135 Stratotanker assigned to the 92nd Air Refueling Wing during the Weapons Integration course over the Nevada Test and Training Range, Dec. 12, 2023. Air refueling crews assigned to the 92nd, 93rd and 97th Air Refueling Squadrons at Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington, participated in the WSINT course to enhance interoperability with a variety of aircraft and demonstrate how Air Mobility Command’s air refueling capabilities enhance global reach for all Department of Defense air operations. WSINT is a series of complex, large-force employment missions that serve as the capstone portion of Weapons School classes, which take place twice a year at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. WSINT students plan and execute every aspect of air, space and cyber combat operations, with joint force components converging over the Nevada Test and Training Range. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Haiden Morris)
To address this, Lockheed Martin, the original manufacturer, is working closely with the Air Force to sustain the fleet through performance-based logistics and modernization lines at Hill Air Force Base.
These efforts aim to improve reliability, reduce maintenance hours, and extend the aircraft’s service life.
Building new aircraft is far more expensive and time-consuming than upgrading existing platforms.
The Air Force’s fiscal year 2026 budget includes $90 million for viability upgrades, with additional funding requested for CCA integration and sensor enhancements.
Congress has consistently influenced the F-22’s future, often blocking Air Force proposals to retire older models.
Lawmakers argue that maintaining a robust air superiority capability is essential, especially given the current global security environment.
About the Author: Isaac Seitz
Isaac Seitz, a Defense Columnist, graduated from Patrick Henry College’s Strategic Intelligence and National Security program. He has also studied Russian at Middlebury Language Schools and has worked as an intelligence Analyst in the private sector.
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Shithole
October 28, 2025 at 8:47 am
F-22 is past its bedtime.
Like grandpa genocide joe.
What ever upgrades applied, it’s like lipstick for hogs.
F-22 is like joe, who’s now getting blasted with radiation treatmemt, in a last gasp measure to…to avoid getting collected straightaway by the Grim reaper.