PUBLISHED on August 18, 2025, 2:35 PM EDT – Key Points and Summary: The F-22 Raptor, America’s premier air superiority fighter, is receiving an $8 billion lifeline to keep it dominant for the foreseeable future.
-The massive upgrade program will equip the remaining 142 operational Raptors with a new Infrared Defensive System (IRDS) for enhanced survivability and new stealthy, low-drag external fuel tanks to extend its combat range.
-This significant investment pushes back the jet’s planned 2030 retirement and serves as a major reversal of the controversial 2009 decision by then-SECDEF Bob Gates to prematurely cap the F-22 fleet at just 187 aircraft.
The F-22 Raptor Isn’t Going Anywhere
The F-22 Raptor is historically significant as the world’s first operational 5th-generation stealth fighter jet, and it remains in service with the United States Air Force 20 years after making its official operational debut.
Alas, the Raptor’s story is one of stunted growth potential, as then-US Secretary of Defense (SECDEF) Bob Gates made the incredibly boneheaded decision back in 2009 to kill the Raptor after only 187 airframes were built out of the original 381 planned.
Fortunately, not entirely unlike a comic book superhero being resurrected, the F-22 is being given a new lease on life.
Or as Popular Mechanics puts it in a metaphorically melodramatic manner, “The F-22 Raptor Has Clawed Back From the Brink of Death … America’s premier fighter jet earns a stay of execution with an $8 billion lifeline.”
This cash infusion undoubtedly will be happy news for fans of the fighter, not to mention a welcome financial windfall for the fine folks at Lockheed Martin’s legendary Skunk Works division. But what exactly are the finer points and nitty-gritty details behind this big-bucks upgrade and modernization plan?
F-22 UPGRADE #1: IRDS
We start by going straight to the proverbial horse’s mouth. i.e., the manufacturer. Back on January 22, 2025, Lockheed Martin published a press release noting that the warbird will receive the Infrared Defensive System (IRDS), a newly developed, distributed set of embedded Tactical Infrared Search and Track (TacIRST) sensors to enhance the plane’s survivability and lethality.
As Lockheed Martin’s Hank Tucker, vice president of Missions Systems, stated at the time, “We understand the need for advanced and versatile infrared systems like IRDS that will make pilots’ missions more survivable and lethal against current and future adversaries. We’re committed to supporting the Air Force through continuous innovation of capabilities to deter and defeat evolving threats.”
Adds Justin Taylor, LM’s vice president of the F-22 program at the time (and now vice president of Skunk Works as a whole): “Lockheed Martin is proud to continue partnering with the Air Force on essential modernization efforts for the Raptor, leveraging our expertise in 5th Generation aircraft and air dominance systems to integrate capabilities that ensure uninterrupted U.S. air superiority today and into the future.”
By itself, this IRDS enhancement accounts for a $270 piece of that $8 million pie.
F-22 UPGRADE #2: MORE GAS FOR THE GO
In its current form, the F-22 has a ferry range of 1,740 nautical miles (2,000 statute miles, 3,220 kilometers) and a combat range of 750 nautical miles (863 statute miles, 1,389 kilometers) with 100 nautical miles in supercruise whilst employing two 600-gallon (2,271-liter) tanks. Considering that China’s Chengdu J-20 stealth fighter has a respective ferry range and combat range of 3,000 nautical miles (3,400 statute miles, 5,500 kilometers) and 1,100 nautical miles (1,200 statute miles, 2,000 kilometers), this is a trifle concerning.
Accordingly, the F-22 upgrades will include new drop tanks that not only extend the range of the fighter (though exact numbers have not been made available yet) but are also stealthier, thus providing a highly desirable twofer for the men and women who fly the plane. (Apparently, when it comes to 5th-generation fighter jets, you *can* have your cake and eat it too.)
This improvement is designated Low Drag Tanks and Pylons (LDTP). According to the Air Force’s 2026 Fiscal Year budget request (as quoted by Joseph Trevithick in a July 2, 2025, article for TWZ), “The low drag tanks are intended to minimally increase drag for external tank carriage, facilitate supersonic flight with external tanks and extend the range of the F-22. The pylons are equipped with smart rack pneumatic technology to accurately control ejection performance and maintain minimum drag without stores.”
Furthermore, “The LDTP program will finalize technology maturation and conduct risk reduction tasks including the procurement of test pylons, evaluation of designs for improvement, completion of a manufacturing readiness assessment, and analysis to support the development and execution of initial flight test up to 0.95 Mach … The program will continue EMD to include the procurement of LDTP assets, as well as support equipment, evaluation of designs for improvement, flight test execution for threshold envelope (1.2 Mach), and LDTP qualification and certification.”
NOTE: In this instance, “EMD” stands for Engineering & Manufacturing Development.
THE WAY FORWARD FOR THE F-22
All told, the USAF’s projected F-22 budget through fiscal year 2029 includes $4.7 billion for procurement and $3.1 billion for research, development, test, and evaluation.
Mind you, it’s not all happy news for the Raptor. The Air Force still plans to divest 32 airframes, more specifically the Block 20 iterations, leaving 142 of the warbirds to receive the makeover. That said, those remaining Raptors are seeing their originally planned retirement date of 2030 pushed back to a date that “hasn’t been decided … and it depends on progress with NGAD” and other factors, according to one unnamed Pentagon official.
Looks like Lockheed Martin and the F-22’s hard-working pilots and maintainers are getting the last laugh on Bob Gates after all.
About the Author: Christian D. Orr, Defense Expert
Christian D. Orr is a Senior Defense Editor. He is a former Air Force Security Forces officer, Federal law enforcement officer, and private military contractor (with assignments worked in Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Kosovo, Japan, Germany, and the Pentagon). Chris holds a B.A. in International Relations from the University of Southern California (USC) and an M.A. in Intelligence Studies (concentration in Terrorism Studies) from American Military University (AMU).
Military Matters
The F-22 Raptor Just Keeps Getting Better
George
August 20, 2025 at 9:44 am
Maybe if they focused on a plane that flies instead of being invisible they would be further down the road?
Tim
August 20, 2025 at 11:22 am
Can just make it official? Change the name of “Skunkworks” to “Legendary Skunkworks”.
It’s already true that EVERY writer must qualify “Skunkworks” with the adjective, so let’s just make it official.
HMark
August 21, 2025 at 7:17 am
F-22, a limited irreplaceable supply, no new unit production possible and future replacement aircraft years if not decades off. Looking back, was stopping F-22 production a wise decision?
Mikk
August 22, 2025 at 7:43 am
Because the F22 is the most dangerous aircraft on the planet. The only real separation between it and the 47 will be avionics and software.
Chris Long
August 25, 2025 at 5:20 pm
“By itself, this IRDS enhancement accounts for a $270 piece of that $8 million pie.”
Did AI write this article for you? Do editors no longer exist? Nothing related to F-22 costs only $270.