Summary and Key Points: Steve Balestrieri, a former US Army Special Forces officer and national security columnist, analyzes the F-22 stealth “Raptor 2.0” upgrades unveiled at the 2026 AFA Symposium.
-To counter China’s A2/AD reach in the First Island Chain, the USAF is integrating Low Drag Tank and Pylon (LDTP) systems and Infrared Search and Track (IRST) pods onto the F-22.
F-22 Raptor In the Air. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
F-22 Raptor Fighter for US Air Force. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
-This report evaluates how these enhancements—paired with the ability to command MQ-20 Avenger drones via Autonodyne Bashi PVI software—allow the F-22 to maintain air dominance while operating from extended stand-off distances in the Indo-Pacific.
The “F-22 Raptor 2.0” Strategy: Why the US Air Force is Doubling Down on the World’s Stealthiest Jet
The US Air Force’s fifth-generation fighter, the F-22 Raptor, remains the stealthiest aircraft in the world. Introduced in 2005, it is the world’s first mass-produced fifth-generation fighter jet and has been a cornerstone of the US Air Force’s air superiority strategy.
Currently, there are 178 F-22 fighters in service.
While the Raptor was already supposed to be retired by now, the Air Force is constantly upgrading the aircraft with enhancements that will keep it on top of its game until the Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program, slated for the 2030s, is ready.
A U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor assigned to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska flies over the Alaskan mountain range during Northern Edge 23-1, May 10, 2023. NE 23-1 allows the U.S. Joint Force to more fully develop Joint All-Domain Operations (JADO) concepts through exercises and experimentation for application in operations around the world. (U.S. Air Force photo by 2nd Lt. Ariana Wilkinson)
An F-22 Raptor performs an aerial demonstration at Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia, Sept. 20, 2025. Designed for both air superiority and ground attack missions, the F-22 demonstrates the flexibility and power of fifth-generation fighter technology. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Lauren Cobin)
An F-22 Raptor performs an aerial demonstration at Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia, Sept. 21, 2025. Designed for both air superiority and ground attack missions, the F-22 demonstrates the flexibility and power of fifth-generation fighter technology. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Lauren Cobin)
And with an $11 billion upgrade that includes conformal, stealthy new fuel tanks and infrared search-and-track pods being installed further outboard on the wings, the Raptor has increased its combat range without sacrificing its incredible stealth profile.
Lockheed Martin unveiled a model of the improved F-22 “Raptor 2.0” at the Air and Space Forces Association Annual Warfare Symposium this week.
Fuel Tanks Can Now Fly Into Combat:
One criticism against the Raptor has always been its short range. Raptors have carried 600-gallon fuel tanks under each wing to increase their ferry range, but these had to be dropped if the Raptors went into combat. The drop tanks also severely affected the Raptor’s stealth capability.
The F-22’s unrefueled combat range was 590 nautical miles. However, these new drop tanks, which Lockheed says have been developed after years of flight testing, can be flown directly into combat without being jettisoned.
The Low Drag Tank and Pylon (LDTP) program is a Lockheed Martin effort to develop stealth-compatible external fuel tanks for the F-22 Raptor, significantly extending its combat range for Pacific operations without sacrificing low-observability. These tanks feature a low-drag, sleek design and can be jettisoned to leave a clean, stealthy aircraft profile or left in place.
“These can go into combat,” says Katie Ciccarino, vice-president of Lockheed’s F-22 program.
“They are droppable if they need to be,” she added. “But the idea would be not to drop them, and to retain them throughout whatever the pilot is doing and then coming home and being able to use them again.”
Both the current and new external tanks provide F-22s with an extra 850 nautical miles (1,570km) of range, according to Lockheed.
New IRST Sensors, More Survivability, More Lethality:
Lockheed Martin has upgraded its F-22 Raptor with upgraded infrared threat-detection sensors. This latest enhancement will improve the aircraft’s survivability and lethality by adding an infrared search and track sensor (IRST) capability.
The inclusion of infrared search-and-track pods enables passive detection and tracking of airborne targets by sensing thermal signatures, eliminating the need to use radar signals that could reveal the aircraft’s position.
Although mounted externally, the pods appear optimized for stealth management. Although any externally mounted equipment will affect stealth, the trade-off in capability is considered worth it. In environments characterized by advanced electronic warfare and anti-access strategies, passive sensing enhances survivability and situational awareness.
TWZ pointed out that “an IRST sensor is useful for detecting stealthy targets, something that is also becoming increasingly relevant in the Pacific region. There is also the option of IRST-equipped Raptors sharing their sensor data with ‘clean’ F-22s, enhancing their situational awareness.”
The F-22 Remains The Standard That Aircraft Are Measured Against:
Whenever a US or NATO ally needs support to protect its borders or airspace, the Air Force sends the F-22 to put out fires and project power and deterrence.
In April 2023, F-22 fighters were dispatched from Poland to Amari Air Base in Estonia to bolster NATO’s Air Shielding mission and deter Russian aggression in the Baltic Sea region.
“It cannot be matched by any known or projected fighter aircraft, making it a highly strategic platform to support NATO Air Shielding,” the USAF said.
In November, the US deployed F-22 Raptors, and later F-35s, to Kadena Air Base in Japan as a show of force against China.
Kadena is located in Okinawa, one of Japan’s southwest Ryukyu islands that form the first island chain. This U.S. defense concept links Japan, Taiwan, and the Philippines, pooling allied nations to contain the Chinese military in the region. And it is only 370 miles from Taiwan.
F-22s were used in the US airstrikes against Iran’s nuclear facilities in June, as well as the operation in Venezuela to remove strongman Nicolas Maduro.
The Raptor Is Operating With Collarborative Combat Aircraft:
The F-22 Raptor has it all: stealth, supercruise capabilities, and integrated avionics. And it just got better. It is equipped with an advanced sensor suite to detect, identify, and engage threats before they can be detected.
The cockpit design and advancements in sensor fusion have notably improved pilots’ situational awareness. Another contract involves upgrading the Raptor’s countermeasures.
And the Raptor is the first aircraft to control the Collaborative Combat Aircraft in flight testing.
An F-22 pilot controlled an MQ-20 drone from the fighter’s cockpit. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) MQ-20 Avenger uncrewed aircraft performed a test mission with an Air Force F-22 stealth fighter as the company separately plans long-range standoff weapons for the MQ-9B.
Flight Global wrote that the “F-22 acted as a command aircraft and the MQ-20 demonstrated the ability to receive and execute commands through a tactical data link.
“The MQ-20 was able to send messages to the F-22, which in turn sent commands via the Autonodyne Bashi Pilot Vehicle Interface (PVI), software that lets a human pilot in a manned aircraft command and task autonomous uncrewed aircraft during missions.”
The upgrades to the F-22 will help preserve the aircraft’s air-superiority fighter role and competitive edge as the US military confronts more advanced threats from its enemies, especially in the Indo-Pacific, where China poses a particular challenge.
About the Author: Steve Balestrieri
Steve Balestrieri is a National Security Columnist. He served as a US Army Special Forces NCO and Warrant Officer. In addition to writing on defense, he covers the NFL for PatsFans.com and is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA). His work was regularly featured in many military publications.
Geh-geh
February 27, 2026 at 10:21 pm
Man, man, man, anybody actually frightened or scared by the elderly jet sure is truly missing the big forest for the small tree.
Why that.
Becuz the US space forces just recently let the dark shadowy black cat out of the bag.
US space forces is now standing up its ‘combat forces command’, in line with the air force’s global strike command and the main strategic command that oversees SLBMs, LRSOs and minuteman missiles.
In preparation for the coming ‘high-end’ fight. (ww3, What else.)
What the actual purpose or aim of combat forces command.
Its aim or purpose is to prosecute preemptive strikes (PRE-EMPTIVE BLOW) against a suspected foe, suspected of wanting to wage war against the US.
By striking out its satellites, its spaceplanes, its space stations and its astronaut corps. In space.
The aim is to carry out an all-out pre-emptive strike offensive in space (LEO & GEO) to blind and confuse the suspected aggressor so that US ground forces would be able to deliver their coup de grace.
To that suspected aggressor.
So, don’t be blindsided by the elderly fighter.