Lockheed Martin has been awarded a $270 million contract from the U.S. Air Force to integrate next-generation infrared defense sensors into the F-22 Raptor.
The system, known as the Infrared Defense System (IRDS), is a distributed set of TacIRST sensors designed to improve aircraft survivability and combat effectiveness.
A new IRDS sensor will be embedded in the F-22 to enhance its infrared detection and defense capabilities. Lockheed Martin is responsible for managing the integration of these sensors on the F-22 and supporting integration into other platforms.
This latest contract follows a hefty $1 billion award awarded to Raytheon Technologies (RTX) by the U.S. Air Force in September 2024 to further enhance the F-22’s sensor system. This initial contract includes new sensors, spare parts and support equipment, and work is expected to be completed by May 2029.
The F-22 Raptor is a fifth-generation fighter that first entered service in 1997 and has received sensor upgrades over the years. Recent additions to the aircraft include an advanced infrared search and track (IRST) system, which allows the aircraft to detect low-visibility targets based on infrared emissions. These systems were reportedly tested on the F-22 in 2023.
The military previously planned to phase out the F-22 by the early 2030s in favor of next-generation aircraft. This could lead to maintenance of the aircraft fleet, including the possibility of retiring older Block 20 F-22s out of a total fleet of 186 aircraft.
The continued upgrade of the F-22 comes as the U.S. Air Force continues to reevaluate its Next Generation Air Superiority (NGAD) program. NGAD aims to replace the F-22 with a sixth-generation aircraft capable of controlling multiple unmanned cooperative combat aircraft (CCAs). However, the high cost of the NGAD manned platform and concerns that the technology could be overtaken by CCA in the next 10 to 15 years led the Air Force to reevaluate its approach to the program.
