On April 25, 2025, Edwards Air Force Base, California, quietly released a striking image to the DVIDS network: two F-22 Raptors flying in formation with their Boeing 757 Flying Test Bed (FTB), N757A. Though the photograph dates back to October 23, 2024, its timing aligns with major ongoing efforts to upgrade the Raptor fleet, reinforcing the accelerating pace at which the U.S. Air Force is pushing the boundaries of air dominance.
The Raptors in the image belong to the 411th Flight Test Squadron at Edwards AFB. Nicknamed “Catfish” for its modified appearance, the Boeing 757 FTB serves a critical function: testing and validating new avionics, sensors, and systems destined for the F-22, in a real-world, operationally representative environment. This cost-effective and flexible platform plays a pivotal role in expediting enhancements without grounding operational Raptors for extended periods.
The integration work is a joint effort among the Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center (AFOTEC), Lockheed Martin, Boeing, and the Air Dominance Combined Test Force (CTF) at Edwards. The CTF, which evolved from the original F-22 Raptor CTF in June 2023, is now charged with a broader mission—preparing for the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) Family of Systems, including the newly designated F-47.
While rumors abound about a hidden connection between the F-22 upgrades and NGAD, Boeing’s role, for now, primarily concerns the FTB’s operations. Still, the timing suggests an accelerating convergence between legacy and next-generation platforms.
The FTB is more than a flying lab; it’s an irreplaceable tool. Before the F-22 prototype ever took to the skies, the FTB tested its critical systems. Modified with an F-22 radar mounted in a reworked nose section, a sensor wing above the cockpit, and a simulated Raptor cockpit embedded inside the fuselage, the FTB mimics operational conditions.
Pilots and engineers use this platform to validate new radar modes, sensors, and software before releasing them to flight test squadrons. This “fly before you field” strategy minimizes operational risk, saves billions in development costs, and speeds up deployment.
Over the years, N757A has seen significant modifications, but 2024 marked an especially intense period of activity as part of the broader push to modernize the F-22 fleet.
The image’s release coincides with a series of revelations about the F-22’s ongoing modernization. The Air Force plans to invest $7.8 billion into the Raptor fleet before 2030, with $3.1 billion earmarked for research and development and $4.7 billion for procurement. These figures underscore the strategic importance of keeping the F-22 relevant in an era of rapid technological advancement.
One of the biggest recent steps was the announcement on January 22, 2025, that Lockheed Martin received a $270 million contract to integrate the TacIRST (Tactical Infrared Search and Track) system into the Raptor. Unlike traditional IRST pods, the TacIRST system is designed to be flush with the aircraft’s surfaces, preserving the F-22’s stealth profile.
Borrowing concepts from the F-35’s Distributed Aperture System, this upgrade embeds multiple compact sensors around the aircraft. It enables not just threat detection and tracking, but also passive reconnaissance without alerting enemy systems. This “silent hunter” capability significantly boosts the Raptor’s lethality in contested environments.
Aside from embedded sensors, the Raptors are poised to receive new external features. In March 2024, sharp-eyed photographers near the Mojave Air and Space Port captured images of Raptors carrying new stealthy fuel tanks—designated Low Drag Tanks and Pylons (LDTP).
These tanks represent a leap in aerodynamic efficiency, allowing the F-22 to retain supersonic capabilities even when carrying external fuel. Traditional external tanks compromise stealth and performance; these new tanks resolve that issue, providing increased range without sacrificing survivability.
Adding to the mystery are faceted underwing pods spotted in both official artwork and unofficial test photos. These pods likely house versions of the TacIRST or other advanced sensor suites. Some observers even speculate that they may accommodate electronic warfare (EW) equipment or directed energy weapons in the future.
The Raptors’ upgrades are comprehensive. Beyond new sensors and fuel tanks, the Fiscal Year 2023 and 2024 budgets outlined numerous improvements:
- Mode 5 Identification Friend or Foe (IFF)
- Link 16 and Multifunction Information Distribution System Joint Tactical Radio System (MIDS JTRS)
- Embedded GPS/Inertial Navigation System Modernization (EGI-M)
- Open System Architecture (OSA) implementation
- Encrypted communications systems
These enhancements collectively aim to make the F-22 not just a stealthy predator, but a networked one—capable of seamless communication in the battlespace of the 2030s.
Brig. Gen. Jason D. Voorheis, Program Executive Officer for Fighters and Advanced Aircraft, provided rare insight into the tempo of these efforts during the 2024 Life Cycle Industry Days conference. He confirmed that the F-22 conducted six test flights dedicated to advanced sensor prototyping between early 2024 and late 2024.
These rapid prototyping efforts aim to shorten the traditional 5-to-10 year development cycles. Instead, the Air Force seeks to field capabilities within 2-to-3 years of concept inception—a revolution in how U.S. tactical airpower is modernized.
The Catfish’s role in these flights was critical. Acting as a surrogate Raptor, it validated new hardware and software without risking frontline jets. This rapid feedback loop enabled developers to identify issues early and refine systems before frontline fielding.
Beyond Lockheed Martin’s TacIRST integration, Raytheon secured a $1 billion contract to upgrade the F-22’s sensors and survivability systems. Known as “Group B hardware,” these enhancements likely include the IRST pods and other undisclosed electronic warfare upgrades.
Moreover, Raytheon is developing an advanced threat warning receiver to alert pilots of incoming missile threats, radar locks, and possibly even directed energy weapons. Together with upgraded encryption, open architecture computing, and new weapons integrations, these upgrades aim to future-proof the Raptor well into the 2030s.
Though Boeing’s involvement with the Catfish primarily concerns the F-22, the fact that Boeing has been chosen as the prime contractor for the F-47 NGAD raises questions. Could lessons learned from these upgrades inform the NGAD’s design? Almost certainly.
The Air Dominance CTF’s evolution signals an integrated approach to managing both legacy systems like the F-22 and emerging platforms like the F-47. Technology cross-pollination is inevitable, and improvements pioneered on the Raptor may see expanded, more refined applications on NGAD platforms.
For now, however, the mission is clear: keep the Raptor dominant until the NGAD is ready for frontline duty.
As the photo released on April 25, 2025 shows, the Boeing 757 FTB remains a silent but critical player in maintaining U.S. air dominance. It bridges the gap between imagination and operational reality, enabling rapid, cost-effective advancement of one of the world’s most lethal fighters.
The broader modernization effort—encompassing stealthier external tanks, embedded infrared sensors, networked communications, and new air-to-air missiles—marks not just an upgrade but a fundamental transformation of the F-22’s combat capabilities.
