44 billion to upgrade the F-22 Raptor. Lockheed Martin won a huge contract

Lockheed Martin has just received a unique contract worth exactly $ 10.9 billion, or nearly PLN 44 billion, from the US Air Force last Friday. Such a financial injection will serve the company for an important purpose, because it will make Lockheed responsible for the improvement of the F-22 Raptor.

Lockheed has a contract to upgrade the F-22 Raptor

The reason for this decision is to make the F-22 Raptor, produced since 1997, a “bridge” in anticipation of NGAD (Next Generation Air Dominance) fighters. Thanks to the improvements, they will serve US pilots with dignity for at least a dozen or so years and will return to their former glory. You must know that more than two decades ago, this fighter was something of the future, combining a number of impressive features and capabilities.

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The F-22 was also designed to be as “invisible” as possible. Of course, not for our eye (but also for him), but for radars and sensors. It has been designed to reduce its radar signature, both infrared and acoustic. This made it far superior to conventional jets, in addition to being equipped with an integrated avionics system that combined sensor fusion, radar data and other external sensors to increase situational awareness of pilots in the cockpit.

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However, time is not even gentle with such creations, and as a long time has passed since the initial fighter design, it is time for a far-reaching upgrade to the F-22 Raptor. Hence the contract under the ARES (Advanced Raptor Enhancement and Sustainment Program) contract, which will cover the maintenance and modernization of the jet fighter for up to a decade. It will include improvements, modifications and other fixes, as well as logistic services (via Defense News).