Lockheed Martin has been awarded a $270 million contract by the US Air Force to integrate next-generation infrared defensive sensors on the F-22 Raptor.
Under the agreement, the F-22 will be equipped with a distributed set of embedded TacIRST sensors, collectively known as the Infrared Defensive System (IRDS). These sensors are designed to bolster the Raptor’s ability to detect, track, and counter adversarial threats in the infrared spectrum.
“We understand the need for advanced and versatile infrared systems like IRDS that will make pilots’ missions more survivable and lethal against current and future adversaries,” said Hank Tucker, Vice President of Mission Systems at Lockheed Martin. “We’re committed to supporting the Air Force through continuous innovation of capabilities to deter and defeat evolving threats.”
In addition to outfitting the F-22, Lockheed Martin will also support the integration of IRDS on other platforms.
Future-proofing the F-22 Raptor
The Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor, introduced in 2005, is the world’s first mass-produced fifth-generation fighter jet and has been a cornerstone of the US Air Force’s (USAF) air superiority strategy. Currently, there are 178 F-22 fighters in service.
Originally planned to be replaced by the now-controverted Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program in the 2030s, the F-22 is undergoing modernization efforts to prepare it for potential near-peer conflicts.
Integrating the Infrared Detection System (IRDS) is part of a modernization effort to ensure the aircraft’s relevance in an increasingly complex and contested battlespace. In September 2024, Raytheon was awarded a contract worth up to $1.04 billion by the USAF to enhance the sensor capabilities of the F-22 Raptor.
In recent years, squadrons of F-22 fighters have been deployed in emerging tension zones as a reassurance tool for US allies. For example, in April 2023, F-22 fighters were redeployed from Poland to Amari Air Base in Estonia to bolster NATO’s Air Shielding mission and deter aggression in the Baltic Sea region.
“It cannot be matched by any known or projected fighter aircraft, making it a highly strategic platform to support NATO Air Shielding,” the USAF commented at the time.
In August 2024, approximately a dozen F-22 Raptors were sent to the Middle East as a strategic response to increasing threats from Iran and its regional proxies.
