In 2021, the US Department of Defense allocated $10.9 to Lockheed Martin to modernize its fleet of fifth-generation F-22 Raptor fighters. The American defense contractor is doing this successfully.
What is known
The US Air Force is armed with approximately 180 F-22 Raptor fighters of various levels of combat readiness. Lockheed Martin has already upgraded almost half of the aircraft and wants to improve about two dozen more before the end of the year.
O. J. Sanchez, president of the F-16 and F-22 programs, made a corresponding statement. According to him, the company has upgraded more than 80 fifth-generation fighters. In total, by the end of 2023, the number of improved aircraft will exceed 100 units.
Lockheed Martin and the US Air Force are keeping key details of the upgrade under wraps, but a few things have come to light. In particular, the Raptor Agile Capability Release (RACR) update series focuses on open systems architecture.
This year, the company completed the 3.2B update, which gave the aircraft the ability to carry the AIM-120 AMRAAM and AIM-9X Sidewinder air-to-air missiles. In addition, to increase the flight range, fighters receive external fuel tanks.
Source: Defense One
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2023-08-07 18:36:20
