Thomas Newdick of The War Zone describes a new scale model of the upgraded Lockheed Martin F‑22 Raptor — dubbed “Raptor 2.0” — shown at the Air & Space Forces Association Warfare Symposium. The model reveals key new features, including stealthy external fuel tanks to extend range and under-wing infrared search-and-track (IRST) sensor pods.
These upgrades aim to address the Raptor’s limited range and enhance its ability to detect stealthy targets, especially in the Pacific theater.
Additional improvements under development include more processing power and enhancements to radar, communications, and defensive systems, helping keep the aircraft relevant until its eventual replacement. TWZ writes:
Lockheed Martin has presented a scale model of the new-look F-22 Raptor fitted with stealthy external fuel tanks and underwing infrared sensor pods. Up to this point, the fuel tanks had been seen in renderings as well as at least one long-distance photo that revealed little in the way of details. The sensor pods, or mockups thereof, had previously been seen at closer quarters during flight testing, as you can read about here.
The production-representative scale model of what the manufacturer terms “Raptor 2.0” is being shown at the Air & Space Forces Association’s annual Warfare Symposium, where TWZ is in attendance. TWZ was the first to report on the transformation the F-22 is now undergoing as it enters the back end of its career. […]
Most obvious on the model are the new stealthy fuel tanks, a critical addition to ensure that the F-22 is able to better cover the vast distances that would be involved in a potential future conflict in the Indo-Pacific. In the past, the Raptor’s notoriously short range has been mitigated by using non-stealthy 600-gallon tanks, but these are not a realistic option when faced by more capable hostile air defenses. […]
Core Improvements Defining the F-22 Raptor 2.0:
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Stealthy external fuel tanks to significantly extend combat range while preserving low observability
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Under-wing Infrared Search and Track (IRST) sensor pods to improve detection and tracking of stealthy or low-observable targets
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Enhanced processing power to handle more complex sensor fusion and data workloads
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Upgraded radar capabilities for improved target detection, tracking, and electronic resilience
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Improved communications systems to better integrate with other aircraft and networked forces
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Enhanced defensive systems to boost survivability in high-threat environments
Read more here.
