<p >The U.S. Air Force has confirmed plans for new upgrades for the F-22 fighter, which is intended to allow the aircraft to remain viable into the 2030s. The F-22 was the first fifth generation fighter to enter service anywhere in the world, and after over half a decade of delays, it belatedly became operational in December 2025. The age of the fighter’s airframe and its reliance on 1990s avionics have left it increasingly obsolete when compared to <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/us-air-force-f35-orders-cut-50pct-sixth-generation" target="_blank">modern F-35</a> and <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/j20-equip-elite-fighter-unit-guarding-beijing-2nd-brigade" target="_blank">Chinese J-20</a> fifth generation fighters, with the discrepancy in capabilities continuing to grow as both of the newer aircraft are rapidly incrementally modernised. With the F-22’s maintenance needs and operational costs estimated to be by far the highest of those of any fighter class in the world, calls have grown from the early 2020s to <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/congressional-report-usaf-f22" target="_blank">retire the fleet </a>several decades ahead of schedule, with the Air Force having made <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/congress-tries-block-usaf-f22-retirement" target="_blank">multiple attempts </a>to do so.&nbsp;</p><p ><img src="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/m/articles/2025/07/04/article_6867856be12bd0_57456836.jpeg" title="U.S. Air Force F-22 Fighters"></p><p >New subsystems intended for integration onto the F-22 include new stealth coatings, a number of unspecified improvements for its ageing AN/APG-77 radar, a new electronic warfare suite, and an Infrared Defensive System (IRDS). “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,” Air Force budget documents for Fiscal Year 2026 elaborated, adding that “situational awareness and mission effectiveness technologies will be incorporated to enhance the F-22 participation in Joint operations.”</p><p ><img src="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/m/articles/2025/07/04/article_686785c7e17120_83648777.jpeg" title="Chinese J-20 Fifth Generation Fighter"></p><p >Investment in modernising the F-22 is being made at a time when the future of the Air Force’s <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/boeing-unprecedented-investments-f47" target="_blank">F-47 sixth generation fighter</a> remains uncertain, with the possibility of the aircraft’s service entry being delayed to the mid or late 2030s being significant. Like the F-47, the F-22 was designed as an air superiority fighter, although its age has raised serous questions regarding its ability to engage newer fifth generation fighters like the J-20 in high end air-to-air combat. The discrepancy between the two aircraft in sensors and avionics is particularly significant. The F-22 is the only 21st century fighter class that lacks infrared sensors or helmet mounted sights, with the latter in particular placing adversaries at an overwhelming advantage in visual range combat. Integrating these systems, and allowing the aircraft to network more seamlessly with other assets, will allow it to play a far more significant role in a potential peer on peer engagement.&nbsp;</p><p ><img src="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/m/articles/2025/07/04/article_686785de660794_79820120.png" title="Chinese Sixth Generation Long Range Fighter Prototype"></p><p >The cost effectiveness of investing in modernising the F-22 and keeping the current fleet of 185 fighters in service has been <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/f22s-2030-110-f35s-cut-raptors" target="_blank">widely questioned</a>, particularly when considering the quantities of F-35 or F-15EX fighters which could be procured for the same price, and the questionable viability of the F-22 both against newer fifth generation fighters, and against China’s <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/worlds-largest-fighter-plane-china-ultra-long-range-sixth-gen" target="_blank">first sixth generation fighters</a> which are expected to enter service around 2030. Even if its combat capabilities are improved, the F-22 will still suffer from a very short range for an aircraft of its size, around half that of the J-20, which is a particularly significant constraint over the vast distances of the Pacific. The fighter’s availability rates are also by far the lowest in the Air Force due to its extreme maintenance needs, while its versatility is considered the poorest of any 21st century fighter due to its inability to carry any beyond visual range air-to-surface or anti-ship weapons. At a time when the Air Force suffers a near unprecedented strain on its budget, it is likely that investment in modernisation of the F-22 will face significant opposition, as calls are made to invest the funds in the F-47 and other programs.&nbsp;</p>