F-22 Flies to 2060

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.