Published on August 6, 2025, 18:40 EST – Key Points and Summary – The U.S. Air Force is proposing a “viability” package to upgrade its F-22 Raptor fleet into a more capable “F-22 Super.”
The plan, revealed in the FY2026 budget request, includes significant improvements to the jet’s stealth coatings, radar, electronic warfare, and infrared search and track systems to keep it relevant against future threats.
However, these upgrades should not be fully supported until the F-22’s notoriously poor combat readiness and maintenance issues are addressed, noting that a large portion of the current fleet is not combat-ready.
What Is the F-22 Super and How Will It Dominate the Future Fight?
The F-22 Raptor has not been at the forefront of people’s minds lately.
We realize it has stealthy and top-notch combat skills, but it just doesn’t have that level of excitement that it once created.
But that all changed in July when the U.S. Air Force announced a new “viability” package to make the stealth warbird into a “super” model.
Indeed, the F-22 Super will be a Raptor on steroids with improvements that will allow it to dominate for years to come.
The Air Force revealed the “super” modifications in its FY2026 budget request, and Members of Congress, who are often left wondering about the future of the F-22, were surprised to learn that the program could soon receive a boost.
What Is In Store for the F-22 Super?
If the proposal is approved, a new infrared defensive system will be implemented.
Then the stealthiness will be improved. The radar system will be updated. The electronic warfare system will be boosted.
The infrared search and track system will become even more powerful.
Working On Raptor Relevance
The service branch is requesting $90.34 million to upgrade the F-22 with super viability enhancements.
There are 185 F-22s in the fleet so this update project will take a substantial amount of time, money, and effort over the next several years.
The Raptor needs something to make it more relevant. The new F-47 NGAD is sucking all of the oxygen out of the room.
The F-35 has demonstrated its combat capabilities to the world, as evidenced by the Israelis’ enhanced F-35I Adir. The F-22 is often on the back burner.
Another problem is that out of the 185 existing F-22s, only 143 are considered combat-ready. The rest are for test, evaluation, and training.
Plus, the Raptor has a reputation for being a maintenance nightmare, and they are often out of action for extended periods.
The Air Force Making a Good Case for the ‘Super’ Upgrades
However, there is a sense of optimism in the air. The F-22 Super will be something to watch as it gets the viability upgrades. This is an extensive to-do list, and the Air Force has put quite a spin on the improvement package in the documents it presented to Congress.
“Viability represents future procurement of hardware and software capability enhancements related to, but not limited to Low Observable (LO) signature management, Pilot Vehicle Interface (PVI), countermeasures, helmet, future crypto upgrades, dynamic Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), cyber security, Infrared Defensive System (IRDS), which involves improved missile launch detection capabilities, and Electronic Warfare (EW) system enhancements to counter evolving EW threat,” according to the Air Force budget paper. “Additional situational awareness and mission effectiveness technologies will be incorporated to enhance the F-22’s participation in Joint operations.”
New Infrared Search and Track System Is High on the List
The infrared search and track system on the F-22 is called TacIRST. This has been in service since 2022, but it needed some tender loving care, and the upgrades will accomplish that. TacIRST will be able to identify enemy aircraft more quickly and efficiently. This threat warning system will be as effective as the IRST apparatus onboard the F-35. TacIRST will also be “immune” to enemy electronic warfare efforts.
Low-observable systems will be enhanced with new “stealthy signature management.”
Again, the F-22 will be comparable to the F-35’s radar evasion capability. It’s not as if the F-22 had poor stealthiness to begin with, but the new radar-absorbent coatings will further optimize low observability.
Sensing and radar are other areas that will be “super” on the F-22. The Raptor will be flying in a contested environment, should conflict arise with China or Russia, and there needs to be better expectations of survivability for the airplane. Maintenance shortcomings are also an issue.
“The Air Force’s proposed budget for the 2026 Fiscal Year shows the service plans to push ahead with now long-standing work to improve the F-22’s communications suite and avionics. The service is also continuing existing efforts to improve the reliability and sustainability of the notoriously maintenance-intensive Raptor fleet,” The War Zone wrote.
What About the F-47 NGAD?
This all sounds great, but there is a concern. The F-47 NGAD has the utmost attention from the White House. President Donald Trump has guaranteed its arrival in the future. Could the F-22 Super upgrades be taking resources and money away from the F-47?
It just may be. The F-22 Super will require funding in the out years with no explicit offsets from other programs. Boeing is having problems with the F-47 because its fighter manufacturing division is on strike. Workers are already picketing. So time is ticking on the F-47 program.
Meanwhile, the F-22 needs a boost. It has been out of the limelight recently, and the airplane requires updates to enable a rosy future. The Air Force needs every stealth airplane to be combat-capable in the future. The Chinese are leading the way with fifth-generation stealth aircraft like the J-20 and J-35.
Russia has its Su-57, which is now flying more missions over Ukraine. The F-22 Super can answer the call more effectively with the update program.
I’m all for the viability upgrades, but it seems like the F-22 program needs to get more fighters into combat-coded status first. There are too many who are not ready to fight. If I were advising a Congressional lawmaker, I would encourage my boss to engage in a line of questioning aimed at the generals and civilian program managers who need to address the shortfall in combat-capable F-22s. I would not support the Super status until maintenance issues and combat readiness were addressed.
But let’s give the Air Force a chance with the F-22 Super. Great minds are working on the upgrades, and the budget request for FY2026 is reasonable. The Air Force needs to address readiness for the entire fleet and disclose the total funding required for the complete viability program in the coming years. I’m willing to support it if I feel confident that other problems with F-22 readiness are solved first.
About the Author: Dr. Brent M. Eastwood
Brent M. Eastwood, PhD is the author of Don’t Turn Your Back On the World: a Conservative Foreign Policy and Humans, Machines, and Data: Future Trends in Warfare plus two other books. Brent was the founder and CEO of a tech firm that predicted world events using artificial intelligence. He served as a legislative fellow for U.S. Senator Tim Scott and advised the senator on defense and foreign policy issues. He has taught at American University, George Washington University, and George Mason University. Brent is a former U.S. Army Infantry officer. He can be followed on X @BMEastwood.
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