Key Points – President Trump has announced plans for a “beautiful” and extensive “super” upgrade for the F-22 Raptor, reversing a previous plan to phase out the legendary stealth fighter.
-The Air Force’s new budget request confirms the move, seeking over $90 million for the “F-22 Viability” program.
U.S. Air Force maintainers assigned to the 3rd Air Expeditionary Wing prepare F-22 Raptors for take-off on the flightline during exercise Resolute Force Pacific 2025 in Tinian, Northern Mariana Islands, July 19, 2025. The REFORPAC exercise is part of a first-in-a-generation Department-Level Exercise series, employing more than 400 Joint and coalition aircraft and more than 12,000 members at more than 50 locations across 3,000 miles. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Tala Hunt)
F-22A Raptor with YF-118G Overhead. Image Credit: National Security Journal.
-The upgrades will focus on enhancing the jet’s stealth, radar, and electronic warfare capabilities to counter emerging threats.
-This marks a major strategic shift, ensuring that America’s premier air superiority fighter, once slated for an early retirement, will remain a lethal and relevant force for decades to come.
Coming Soon: A F-22 Super Fighter?
Back in May, President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. was planning a “beautiful” upgrade of the F-22 Raptor.
In a meeting with business leaders during his visit to Qatar, Trump described the F-22 as”the most beautiful fighter in the world,” and promised that “we’re going to be doing an F-22 super,” Business Insider reported at the time.
That report noted that the “F-22 has never fought the kind of high-end threats it was made for,” and that its most prominent “air-to-air kill” was the Chinese spy balloon in 2023.
Also in that speech, Trump accused China of copying the F-22 design.
Aircraft from the 1st Fighter Wing conducted an Elephant Walk at Langley Air Force Base, Jan. 31, 2025, showcasing the wing’s readiness and operational agility. This demonstration highlighted the wing’s capability to mobilize forces rapidly in high-stress scenarios. The wing’s fleet includes F-22 Raptors and T-38 Talons. As Air Combat Command’s lead wing, the 1 FW maintains unparalleled combat readiness to ensure national defense at a moment’s notice. (U.S. Air Force photo by SrA Ian Sullens)
A U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor performs an aerial demonstration during Aviation Nation 2025 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, April 5, 2025. Aviation Nation is an airshow held at Nellis Air Force Base, showcasing the pride, precision and capabilities of the U.S. Air Force through aerial demonstrations and static displays. The F-22 Raptor performed there to highlight its unmatched agility and air dominance as part of the Air Force’s efforts to inspire, recruit and connect with the public. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Lauren Cobin)
“They copied our design, but they won’t be able to copy our engines,” the president said in Qatar.
Trump wasn’t clear about exactly what the upgrades would be. However, a report released this month reveals what the Air Force is requesting for the future of the F-22 jet.
F-22 Super: Approaching Viability
Citing the Air Force’s budget request for Fiscal Year 2026, The War Zone reported that the upgrades are meant to “help protect them from emerging threats and otherwise ensure their continued relevance in future conflicts.”
In addition to the Infrared Defensive System (IRDS) that Lockheed Martin had announced earlier this year, the requested upgrades include “enhancements to the jet’s stealthy features, radar capabilities, electronic warfare suite, and more.”
Other items, such as podded infrared search and track (IRST) sensors and stealthy range-extending drop tanks, are also in development, but not part of the new request, according to the report.
“This is a new start effort for which the service is asking for $90.34 million in funding in the upcoming fiscal cycle,” the report said. “The Air Force currently has 185 F-22s, but only 143 are combat-coded, with the rest being dedicated to training and test, and evaluation activities. A significant portion of the overall fleet is typically down for maintenance, as well. The small Raptor force is already highly capable and heavily in demand.”
What Viability Means
“Viability represents future procurement of hardware and software capability enhancements related to, but not limited to Low Observable (LO) signature management, Pilot Vehicle Interface (PVI), countermeasures, helmet, future crypto upgrades, dynamic Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), cyber security, Infrared Defensive System (IRDS), which involves improved missile launch detection capabilities, and Electronic Warfare (EW) system enhancements to counter evolving EW threat,” the Air Force budget documents, cited by The War Zone, stated.
U.S. Air Force Capt. Nick “Laz” Le Tourneau, F-22 Raptor Aerial Demonstration Team commander, conducts a solo practice flight at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia DATE. This training session ensured that the demonstration pilot remains proficient in performing complex maneuvers that emphasize stealth and tactical superiority. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Adisen Smith)
U.S. Air Force Maj. Josh Gunderson, F-22 Demo Team commander, enters into the Raptor Slide during the Millville Airshow, Sept. 3, 2021, at Millville Army Airfield, Millville, New Jersey. During the Raptor Slide the aircraft actually slides down and backwards under control before Gunderson adjusts the aircrafts position and powers out of the maneuver. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Don Hudson)
“Additional situational awareness and mission effectiveness technologies will be incorporated to enhance the F-22 participation in Joint operations.”
Will It Happen?
With the request made, the question is whether the upgrades come to fruition. However, it appears that the upgrade has the direct support of the President of the United States, which certainly carries weight.
That comes just four years after Biden-era US Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown, in 2021, had indicated that the F-22 wasn’t going to be part of the Air Force’s long-term plans for its fleet, as Defense One reported at the time.
“Right now we have seven fighter fleets,” Brown said in 2021. “My intent is to get down to about four, OK, and with that four, what is the right mix?”
The idea at the time was that the NGAD jet, now known as the F-47, would take its spot in the lineup.
NGAD. Image Credit. Lockheed Martin.
“I’m really looking for a window of options, because the facts and assumptions based on a threat will change over time,” Gen. Brown said in the 2021 interview.
“But I want to get us shaped in a direction, because right now we have seven fighter fleets. Okay, my intent is to get down to about four.”
About the Author: Stephen Silver
Stephen Silver is an award-winning journalist, essayist, and film critic, and contributor to the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Broad Street Review, and Splice Today. The co-founder of the Philadelphia Film Critics Circle, Stephen lives in suburban Philadelphia with his wife and two sons. For over a decade, Stephen has authored thousands of articles that focus on politics, national security, technology, and the economy. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) at @StephenSilver, and subscribe to his Substack newsletter.
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