The Air Force’s famous F-22 Raptor may have first taken to the skies 25 years ago in 1997, the 5th-generation, stealthy, high-speed air-supremacy jet is often referred to as the most dominant air superiority platform to exist. This idea, which could be described in terms of a prevailing consensus, is why the service has for many years been modernizing and upgrading the fighter with the intent of flying the jet to 2060.
F-22
Certainly the emerging Pentagon 6th-generation aircraft, which is now flying years ahead of schedule but not visible to the public, is likely intended to be superior to the F-22 in most respects, yet that does not mean the Air Force plans to retire the aircraft anytime soon. The reasons for this are clear, it does not appear likely, according to most expert assessments, that the F-22 can truly be rivaled by any other aircraft in the world when it comes to speed, maneuverability and overall air-to-air superiority.
Video Above: Air Dominance and Air Force Innovation
As part of this, the Air Force and Lockheed Martin have in recent years been immersed in a series of extensive high-tech upgrades to the Raptor which improve its weapons, speed, targeting, range, radar and stealth properties. For example, within the last five years, Lockheed Martin has been working with the Air Force on a fleet-wide software upgraded called 3.2b which massively improved the jets computing, sensing and weapons guidance technologies. In particular, the now integrated upgrade vastly improved the range, course-guidance technology and precision of the AIM-9X and AIM-120D air-to-air weapons.
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The Lockheed-Air Force weapons upgrade has been integrating a Block II AIM-9X variant with a new redesigned fuze and digital ignition safety device. This not only improves ground handling but also upgrades the electronics to include “lock-on-after-launch” capability using a new datalink to ensure beyond line of sight targeting, Raytheon data explains.
The AIM-9X uses an imaging infrared focal plane array go give it its “off-boresight” targeting ability. Utilizing a Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System, or a new generation of pilot sights, a pilot can control the AIM-9X missile by simply looking at a target. The 3.2b upgrade also improves the AIM-120D, a beyond visual range Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM), designed for all weather day-and-night attacks; it is a “fire and forget” missile with active transmit radar guidance, Raytheon data states. The AIM-120D is built with upgrades to previous AMRAAM missiles by increasing attack range, GPS navigation, inertial measurement units and a two-way data link, Raytheon statements explain.
Video Above: Air War 2050: 5th & 6th Gen Stealth Fighter Attacks to Continue
Interestingly, while initially conceived of as a high-speed air supremacy platform, the F-22 has in recent years taken on additional operational functions as well such as “close air support,” advanced sensing and flying as an “aerial quarterback” linking targeting detail and real-time data with other air and ground assets such as 4th-gen aircraft, command centers and even drones. As part of this effort, the Air Force has in recent years been in the process of engineering a “two-way” data link between the F-22 and F-35, so that critical combat detail can be exchanged “both ways” between the two 5th-gen aircraft. This is quite significant, as earlier applications of LINK 16 only allowed one-way data sharing. Also, industry developers such as Northrop Grumman have engineered the 550 Freedom radio which uses advanced frequency technology to link F-22s with F-35s without compromising stealth mode.
The F-22 had its combat debut over Iraq against ISIS in 2014, a development which verified the Close-Air-Support capability of the jet. CAS capability would make sense for the F-22, given its speed and maneuverability, as it might be well positioned to track and attack ground targets with advanced, precision-guided air-to-ground weapons. Although the exact extent to which an F-22 could absorb small arms fire may not be well known, the aircraft would likely use speed, targeting and maneuverability to exact lethality in a high-threat environment. The F-22 could use its “supercruise” technology wherein it reached Mach speeds without needing afterburner. This lengthens high-speed operations and improves vectoring for both air-to-ground and air-to-air engagements.
Several years ago, the successful performance of the F-22, fortified by years of technological upgrades, inspired a Pentagon and Congressional discussion about “re-starting” the production line, given that the original fleet plan was massively truncated following the end of the Cold War. While there are roughly 169 or so current F-22s, the original plan for the fleet was much lager. Following lengthy discussion several years ago, DoD and Congressional decision-makers decided to hold off on restarting F-22 production. This may have in large measure been due to the fact that early conceptual work had already begun on what is now the airborne Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) 6th-generation stealth fighter.
Kris Osborn is the Military Affairs Editor of 19 FortyFive and President of Warrior Maven – Center for Military Modernization. Osborn previously served at the Pentagon as a Highly Qualified Expert with the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army—Acquisition, Logistics & Technology. Osborn has also worked as an anchor and on-air military specialist at national TV networks. He has appeared as a guest military expert on Fox News, MSNBC, The Military Channel, and The History Channel. He also has a Masters Degree in Comparative Literature from Columbia University.–
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