“The F-22 is a fantastic aircraft. We’re actually planning several upgrades to the jet as we speak, and there is no official replacement to the F-22 right now,” Gen. Kenneth S. Wilsbach declared in July of 2024. That statement underlined a pivotal shift in U.S. Air Force planning instead of retiring older Block 20 Raptors, the service is preparing to transform them into frontline fighters.
For years, Block 20 F-22s had been relegated to training duties, their combat potential never tapped. With the sixth-gen F-47 way behind schedule and China’s J-20 and Russia’s Su-57 becoming increasingly troublesome, the Air Force has embarked on a program to boost its combat-coded fleet by over 20 percent. The modernization program incorporates state-of-the-art systems into tried-and-true stealth and maneuverability, promising to keep the Raptor relevant well into the 2040s.
This listicle outlines nine critical pieces of the upgrade plan, from stealth sustainment to advanced missile integration, each helping to make the force more lethal, resilient, and strategically flexible.
1. Open Mission Systems Architecture
Part of that modernization has included the adoption of an open mission systems architecture, and this software-defined framework supports rapid integration of new capabilities with less redesign work. What that ultimately means for Block 20 Raptors is that upgrades can be staged, keeping downtime at a minimum while sortie rates stay high. In doing so, interoperability is assured across the fleet, as Block 30/35 jets are using this same architecture. Skunk Works officials have repeatedly emphasized that this will enable rapid insertion of the technologies being developed under the Next Generation Air Dominance program, and in effect turned the F-22s into testbeds for sixth-generation systems while still keeping them operational.
2. Improved Stealth Coatings and Signature Management
Stealth will still be the Raptor’s greatest strength, but low-observable coatings degrade over time. New radar-absorbing materials and improved methods of repair are part of the upgrade package to sustain the best possible radar cross-section. Semi-secret testing of mirror-like coatings on the F-22s and other stealth aircraft hints at possible advances in signature control. Other priorities include infrared signature reduction in response to the worldwide proliferation of passive detection systems like IRST. The measures will ensure Block 20 jets retain survivability against increasingly sophisticated sensors.
3. Infrared Defensive System (IRDS)
It introduces advanced sensors that replace the legacy missile launch detectors and are capable of detecting long-range air-to-air and surface-to-air missile threats. IRDS is derived from the Lockheed TacIRST technology, offering passive detection without the emission of radar energy-a critical advantage in high-electronic-warfare environments. The IRDS is also set to become a crucial survivability enhancement for upgraded Raptors at the formal low-rate initial production decision later this fiscal year, 2026.
4. Podded Infrared Search and Track (IRST)
Supplementing IRDS, the F-22 will also carry a stealthy underwing IRST pod. This would give the fighter long-range passive detection capability of airborne targets, including stealth aircraft, through tracking of heat signatures. Networked IRSTs on multiple aircraft can triangulate target range in real time, providing engagement-quality tracks. The Air Force has already ordered 30 pods, with deliveries scheduled for 2028. IRST will significantly add to situational awareness and targeting options when this system is integrated on Block 20 jets.
5. Upgrades of Electronic Warfare Suite
The electronic warfare system, AN/ALR-94, will be upgraded to provide further advancements in the detection and countermeasures against evolving threat waveforms. Automation of countermeasure responses helps reduce pilot workload and enhances survivability against integrated air defenses. This upgrade directly addresses the vulnerabilities that were identified in high-intensity electromagnetic environments, allowing the Raptor to function optimally when adversaries use the most advanced jamming and cyber techniques.
6. Advanced Weapons Compatibility
The Block 20 Raptors will carry the AIM-9X, AIM-120D, as well as the still-classified AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile. The AIM-260 is designed to counter the Chinese PL-15 and boasts greatly increased range compared to AMRAAM, restoring the beyond-visual-range combat advantage of the U.S. Gen. Wilsbach has committed to close coordination with the Navy to align procurement of these munitions and ensure joint interoperability and stable funding for next-generation missiles.
7. Low-Drag Tanks and Pylons (LDTP)
Range-extending drop tanks that are stealthy will be part of the plan to increase mission persistence without sacrificing supercruise capability. The LDTP design minimizes drag, allows for supersonic flight with external tanks, and employs smart rack pneumatic technology for precise ejection control. This is an improvement that lets the upgraded Raptors operate deeper into contested airspace and expands their tactical reach.
8. Helmet-Mounted Display (HMD)
For the first time, F-22 pilots will get a helmet-mounted display that enables off-boresight missile engagements, greatly improving situational awareness. The Thales Scorpion HMD and Next Generation Fixed Wing Helmet will be integrated with upgraded avionics to provide faster target acquisition and reduce reaction times in close combat. This rectifies the long-standing capability gap and brings the Raptor up to scratch with other fifth-generation fighters.
9. Crewed-Uncrewed Teaming Capability
Modernized Block 20s may include systems to allow operations with loyal wingman drones. Testing of platforms like the XQ-58A Valkyrie has already shown the value of unmanned aircraft in providing forward sensing, electronic warfare support, and even long-range strike. Introducing this capability into the Raptor fleet offers the possibility of multiplying combat effectiveness while lessening risk to human pilots, and aligns with broader Air Force and Navy Collaborative Combat Aircraft initiatives.
More than fleet expansion, modernizing Block 20 F-22s is a hedge against uncertainty. The combination of stealth sustainment, advanced sensors, electronic warfare resilience, and next-generation weapons means the Air Force will gain access to a deeper, more versatile pool of combat-ready aircraft. Whether the F-47 arrives on schedule or slips, these upgrades ensure the Raptor remains a credible air superiority platform well into the 2040s, preserving deterrence and operational flexibility in an era of accelerating global airpower competition.
