The F-22 Raptor is undergoing modernisation, with upgrades to its engine, weapons and sensors to ensure it remains competitive until 2040.

Modernising the F-22 Raptor has become a priority for the US Air Force following the slowdown in the development of sixth-generation fighters. The F-22 life extension programme includes improvements to the Pratt & Whitney F119 engine, weapons upgrades, including the AIM-120D-3, and modifications to on-board sensors. These efforts are aimed at ensuring the F-22’s air superiority until at least 2040.

Background to the F-22 Raptor upgrade

Faced with a pause in the development of sixth-generation fighters, notably as part of the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) programme, the US Air Force (USAF) has reassessed its strategy for ensuring air superiority. Initially scheduled for replacement in the 2030s, the F-22 Raptor could see its service life extended to 2040. This will require significant investment to maintain and modernise the aircraft, with a projected budget of $10 billion** (around €9.4 billion**) over several years.

These investments cover several key aspects of the aircraft’s performance, including its weapons, navigation, pilot-device interface and electronic warfare capabilities. The need for these upgrades stems from the need to maintain the F-22’s competitiveness in the face of emerging threats and rival technologies, while optimising its defensive capabilities, particularly in homeland protection and cruise missile defence.

Pratt & Whitney F119 engine upgrade

The F119 engine is fundamental to the performance of the F-22. Capable of enabling the Raptor to fly at supersonic speeds without the need for afterburner, thanks to the so-called supercruise technology, it represents a major advance in the field of fighter engines. This engine, which incorporates vectored thrust, gives the F-22 unrivalled manoeuvrability, with exhaust nozzles that can swivel 20 degrees up or down.

The company Pratt & Whitney continues to work on improving this engine, analysing flight data to optimise performance. These efforts have recently led to software updates that have increased the engine’s kinetic performance, at no additional cost to US taxpayers. This demonstrates a proactive approach to managing the existing fleet, ensuring that the F119 remains competitive in the face of new threats.

These improvements help prolong the F-22’s effectiveness on the battlefield, particularly in environments where manoeuvrability and supersonic speed are crucial. The engine’s ability to operate without the use of afterburner also offers a significant reduction in fuel consumption, optimising long-duration missions.

Weapons modernization : AIM-120D-3

The F-22 is equipped with the AIM-120D-3, an improved version of the AMRAAM (Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile). This missile has seen its range almost double compared with previous versions, without any change to its propulsion system. Instead, the company Raytheon has optimised the missile’s flight profile to maximise its energy efficiency. This allows the missile to conserve a greater amount of kinetic energy during long-range firing, increasing accuracy and effectiveness against distant targets.

In addition to this increase in range, the AIM-120D-3 benefits from improved resistance to radar jamming systems and adversary countermeasures, making it even more effective in electronic warfare environments. This represents a significant advance in the F-22’s air combat capability, particularly in beyond-visual-range engagements, which are increasingly important in modern conflicts.

The weapons upgrade is part of a wider USAF strategy to adapt its fighters to new air threats, while ensuring technological superiority over its adversaries. Raytheon is also working to integrate these missiles into autonomous drones, which could in future assist conventional fighters in combat support missions.

Improvements to on-board sensors and stealth system

Alongside the propulsion and weapons improvements, the F-22 is also benefiting from updates to its on-board sensors. Raytheon has been awarded a contract worth more than $1 billion** (approximately €940 million**) in September 2024 to make unspecified improvements to the F-22’s sensors. These sensors play a central role in the F-22’s ability to maintain air superiority, providing accurate surveillance, reconnaissance and targeting data.

The sensors integrated into the F-22 allow it to remain stealthy while capturing crucial information on enemy movements. This technology, combined with its low observability characteristics, makes the aircraft particularly difficult for opposing radar systems to detect. The aim of modernising these sensors is to ensure that the F-22 continues to perform well against new-generation detection systems developed by other military powers.

Continuous improvement of these systems is essential to maintain the F-22‘s strategic advantage in a context of rapidly evolving threats. Investment in these technologies will enable the US Air Force to continue to deploy this aircraft in demanding theatres of operation, while guaranteeing pilot protection and mission effectiveness.

Strategic consequences of modernisation

Extending the service life of the F-22 Raptor has major repercussions for US military strategy. On the one hand, it makes it possible to maintain air superiority while delaying the costly and uncertain development of a sixth-generation fighter. Improvements to engines, weapons and sensors ensure that the F-22 remains competitive in the face of emerging threats, while reducing the costs associated with acquiring new platforms.

However, this modernisation also has significant budgetary implications. With a budget of $10 billion over several years, the USAF must ensure that investment in the F-22 delivers a sufficient return on investment, particularly in terms of maintaining technological superiority against adversaries such as Russia and China, who are investing heavily in their own next-generation fighter and UAV programmes.

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