The F-22 Raptor is being equipped with stealth fuel tanks, IRST pods and the AIM-260 missile to maintain its air superiority against emerging threats.

A modernization program focused on air superiority

The F-22 Raptor, a fifth-generation fighter jet developed by Lockheed Martin, remains at the heart of the United States’ air superiority program. Although production was halted in 2011, the aircraft continues to play a strategic role in US engagement doctrine. On June 18, 2025, the US Air Force announced a series of upgrades designed to extend the operational relevance of the F-22 until the arrival of its successor under the NGAD (Next Generation Air Dominance) program.

These improvements include the integration of low-drag stealth external fuel tanks, the addition of IRST (Infrared Search and Track) sensors under the wings, and the deployment of the AIM-260 JATM air-to-air missile, designed to replace the AIM-120 AMRAAM. These modifications are in response to a specific need: to increase endurance, improve passive detection capabilities, and ensure lethality beyond visual range in an increasingly contested environment.

The current geopolitical context—China’s growing air power with the J-20, the increasing deployment of multistatic VHF radars, and the saturation of the battlefield with drones and missiles—requires the United States to adapt its most stealthy platform to a rapidly changing technical reality. The F-22’s 2025 modernization program is not simply an addition of capabilities, but a direct response to concrete developments in strategic and tactical threats.

A stealth external fuel tank to increase range without increasing radar signature

Optimizing range without compromising stealth

One of the main operational shortcomings of the F-22 Raptor has always been its limited range without refueling: approximately 850 kilometers on combat missions, in stealth configuration, without external fuel tanks. Until now, the use of underwing drop tanks significantly reduced the aircraft’s radar stealth.

The solution presented in June 2025 by Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman is a new type of streamlined external tank, optimized to reduce aerodynamic drag and frontal radar signature. This tank, integrated under the wings, has an angular geometry compatible with the stealth surfaces of the F-22. The design uses composite materials and radar-absorbing paint (RAM).

Each tank would increase fuel capacity by more than 2,200 liters, extending the range to more than 1,400 kilometers without refueling. The main advantage lies in the ability to jettison them without degrading the stealth profile: a clean separation mechanism allows the tanks to be jettisoned without leaving any exposed hard points, closing an aerodynamic hatch.

This extended range changes the Raptor’s engagement logic. It allows for longer missions from secondary bases without immediate dependence on a refueler, which becomes crucial in a high-intensity war scenario with denial of access. In the Pacific, this would allow an F-22 based in Guam to strike a target off the coast of Taiwan without compromising its signature.

An IRST sensor for detection without emitting in a degraded environment

Improving passive detection to counter stealth aircraft

The second major element of the program involves installing an IRST sensor under the wings. Until now, the F-22 has not had an integrated passive infrared search system, unlike more recent aircraft such as the F-35, Su-57, and J-20. The IRST (Infrared Search and Track) system detects fighter aircraft by their heat signature, without active radar emissions, thus avoiding giving away their position.

The new sensor, developed by Raytheon Technologies, is mounted in an external pod that is radar-stealthy. It is said to enable detection at ranges of over 130 kilometers against high-emission targets and approximately 90 kilometers against low-observable stealth aircraft.

This capability is crucial when facing adversaries capable of jamming or deceiving conventional radars. In a Beyond Visual Range (BVR) combat, having a reliable thermal track allows a target to be locked without activating the AN/APG-77 radar. This sensor can also be coupled with AI-based sensor fusion algorithms developed as part of the Raptor Agile Capability Release (RACR) program.

IRST also offers an advantage in passive defense. It can detect an incoming missile or a salvo of infrared-guided weapons without relying on radar warning. This enhances the pilot’s tactical autonomy, particularly in engagements without AWACS coverage or in conditions of saturated electronic warfare.

An AIM-260 JATM missile to extend strike range and overcome emerging threats

Replacing the AIM-120 AMRAAM in beyond-visual-range combat

The F-22 will now be able to carry the AIM-260 JATM (Joint Advanced Tactical Missile) air-to-air missile, developed to counter the Chinese PL-15 AAM, capable of striking at ranges of over 250 kilometers. The AIM-120 AMRAAM, in service since the 1990s, has a maximum range of approximately 180 kilometers for the C-7/D versions. This is no longer sufficient against adversaries equipped with long-range radars and distributed sensors.

The AIM-260, designed by Lockheed Martin, incorporates a new augmented impulse propulsion system and active guidance combining radar and data link. Its exact range remains classified, but estimates indicate an effective engagement envelope of 300 kilometers, with a terminal speed exceeding Mach 5.

The missile remains compatible with the internal bay of the F-22 Raptor, without compromising its stealth. The Raptor will be able to carry six AIM-260s in stealth mode, or more in a mixed configuration with external loads. The JATM is designed to work in coordination with a fire control AI, enabling multiple, time-delayed engagements with in-flight target updates.

The objective is twofold: to strike further than the enemy before full radar detection, and to saturate the enemy’s defenses with synchronized high-speed attacks. The JATM restores the Raptor’s advantage in an environment where enemy missiles are gaining range and speed.

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