The U.S. Air Force is taking significant steps to preserve the strategic value of its most potent air superiority fighter, the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor. With a robust $90.34 million procurement allocation included in the proposed Fiscal Year 2026 (FY2026) defense budget, the Pentagon has made clear that the Raptor is not being left behind in the race for aerial dominance—even as sixth-generation systems inch closer to operational debut.
This renewed investment comes in the form of a “viability package” aimed at reinforcing the Raptor’s relevance against sophisticated adversaries and contested battle spaces. The viability enhancements promise to equip the aging but formidable fifth-generation jet with transformative upgrades—technologies designed not just to match, but to overmatch, emerging threats from peer competitors such as China and Russia.
First entering operational service in December 2005, the F-22 Raptor was a watershed moment in air combat capabilities. Designed primarily for air superiority missions, it incorporated a then-unprecedented combination of stealth, supercruise, agility, and sensor fusion. Its unique shaping, radar-absorbing materials (RAM), and internal weapon bays allowed it to avoid detection while maintaining lethal first-shot capability.
However, the program suffered from its own ambition. High development costs, geopolitical shifts after the Cold War, and congressional scrutiny led to early termination of its production run at just 187 aircraft, far short of the 750 originally envisioned. Today, only 143 F-22s are combat-coded, creating a capability that is elite but numerically constrained.
Still, even with its reduced numbers, the F-22 remains peerless in air-to-air combat, thanks to its design philosophy that prioritizes information dominance, survivability, and lethality. Yet the threat environment it was designed to dominate has evolved dramatically.
The F-22’s original threat model focused on outclassing fourth-generation fighters like the MiG-29 and Su-27. But over the past decade, the emergence of fifth-generation competitors—notably China’s Chengdu J-20 and Russia’s Sukhoi Su-57—has altered the strategic calculus.
These rival platforms boast improved stealth shaping, long-range infrared sensors (IRSTs), and networked missile guidance systems. The most pressing concern is China’s PL-15 long-range air-to-air missile, reportedly capable of reaching targets over 200 kilometers away and guided by active radar seekers and data links. Coupled with Chinese IRST systems, this raises the possibility of U.S. stealth jets being passively tracked and engaged without ever knowing they were detected.
The F-22’s current systems were not optimized for such infrared or passive electromagnetic environments. Hence, the FY2026 upgrade focuses on integrating next-generation IR detection, synthetic radar enhancement, and electronic warfare (EW) survivability, all while preserving the aircraft’s core stealth characteristics.
The FY2026 viability package outlines several major components:
- Infrared Defensive System (IRDS)
The IRDS is a major highlight. Designed to provide 360-degree passive detection, this system will enable the F-22 to sense incoming missile threats without emitting detectable signals, enhancing survivability in radar-denied environments. This capability mirrors the F-35’s Distributed Aperture System (DAS) but tailored to the Raptor’s unique low observable (LO) profile.
- Dynamic Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) Enhancements
Radar systems aboard the Raptor are being upgraded for improved target resolution, mapping, and tracking capabilities. These improvements will allow pilots to better discriminate between decoys and real targets in cluttered airspaces, particularly in electronic warfare-heavy zones.
- Enhanced Electronic Warfare (EW) Capabilities
Next-gen EW systems will allow the F-22 to jam, spoof, or mislead adversary sensors while remaining undetected. These updates reflect lessons learned from recent conflicts such as Ukraine, where EW has proved decisive in disrupting both air and ground operations.
- Stealth Signature Refinements
Despite its aging frame, the F-22’s LO surfaces remain a benchmark. The viability upgrade includes refinements to radar-absorbing materials and surface treatments to counter new radar bands being tested by adversaries, especially low-frequency radars capable of detecting traditional stealth configurations.
- Helmet-Mounted Display Systems (HMDS)
One of the longstanding criticisms of the F-22 was its lack of a helmet-mounted cueing system. The FY2026 upgrade brings in HMDS developed by LIFT Airborne Technologies, allowing pilots to quickly lock weapons onto off-boresight targets—a crucial edge in within-visual-range (WVR) combat.
- Integration of TacIRST Pods
To further boost infrared tracking capability, the package includes potential integration of Tactical Infrared Search and Track (TacIRST) pods. These provide an additional passive detection layer and are particularly effective in identifying stealth aircraft or heat-shielded cruise missiles.
Strategic Implications: Bridging to the Sixth Generation
While the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) initiative—slated to produce the F-47—will eventually replace the Raptor in the 2030s, its developmental timeline and budget risks have compelled the Pentagon to hedge its bets by extending the Raptor’s viability.
Senior Air Force officials have consistently emphasized the F-22’s importance in Indo-Pacific deterrence, where air superiority over vast oceanic expanses and in proximity to heavily defended Chinese territory is vital. In scenarios involving Taiwan or the South China Sea, the Raptor’s blend of stealth and first-kill capability would be critical in disabling adversary air defense networks and establishing control of the skies.
Additionally, the F-22 plays a NATO-critical role in Europe, especially in light of Russia’s increased activity over Eastern Europe and the Baltics. In such contexts, a viable Raptor force serves both as a tripwire deterrent and as the spearhead of any response.
Raptor vs J-20 and Su-57
While China’s J-20 has made significant strides, especially in avionics and radar systems, analysts remain skeptical about its stealth quality and engine reliability. Its size and twin canards generate a larger radar signature compared to the F-22.
Russia’s Su-57, on the other hand, offers impressive supermaneuverability and internal weapon bays but falls short in stealth shaping and systems integration. Both adversaries are also limited by production constraints and pilot proficiency levels, though they continue to evolve.
With the viability upgrades, the Raptor regains a clear edge in sensor range, survivability, and engagement timelines. It can engage before being detected and disengage before being intercepted—an unmatched capability in today’s air combat ecosystem.
The FY2026 upgrades also represent a major industrial sustainment initiative. Lockheed Martin, the original developer, retains its role as the prime contractor, ensuring continuity of expertise. Subcontractors include:
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LIFT Airborne Technologies – responsible for the new HMDS.
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Thales Defense & Security Inc. – supporting sensor integration and pilot interface systems.
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BAE Systems – contributing EW subsystems and radar enhancements.
Though the F-22 production line was shut down in 2012, the supply chain remains partially intact, with sustainment contracts ensuring that key suppliers stay active. In many ways, this upgrade cycle breathes new life into the Raptor ecosystem, positioning it as a testbed and transition platform for sixth-generation technologies.
The proposed $90.34 million in FY2026 is classified as a “new-start procurement”, signaling congressional intent to move quickly from R&D into low-rate production by the end of FY2026. This will involve installing systems on test aircraft, followed by a multi-phase fleetwide retrofit.
Pentagon officials argue the cost is marginal compared to restarting an airframe or ramping up NGAD development. In an era of fiscal scrutiny and multi-domain demands, preserving and enhancing what already works is a compelling value proposition.
In Congress, bipartisan support for the Raptor remains strong, particularly from lawmakers representing districts involved in aerospace production. The fighter also enjoys backing from Air Force senior leadership, who see it as a critical insurance policy during the NGAD transition.
The F-22’s FY2026 viability upgrade is more than a technical refresh—it is a strategic reaffirmation. It signals that while the U.S. is looking toward sixth-generation fighters, it will not risk a capability gap in the meantime.
In essence, the Raptor is being repurposed from a Cold War-era super fighter to a 21st-century combat system—one that can navigate the complexities of modern peer warfare, electronic denial, and infrared tracking battles. And with the Indo-Pacific heating up and Europe’s skies under watch, the F-22’s mission is far from over.
