Air Force and Lockheed Martin arm F-22 Raptor jet fighter with new weapons for long-range precision attack
WASHINGTON – The Air Force and Lockheed Martin are arming the F-22 stealth fighter with more long-range precision attack technology, an expanded targeting envelope, and new networking for real-time collaborative targeting among aircraft. Kris Osborn at The National Interest reports. Continue reading original article
The Military & Aerospace Electronics take:
10 Dec. 2019 -- The new weapons not only increase F-22 lethality, but also are shaping future Air Force combat tactics. As the Air Force tries to sustain air supremacy, systems developers are adding, refining, testing, and adjusting stealth fighter attack strategies and tactics to capitalize on F-22s technical improvements.
The two new weapons, developed over the past several years, are advanced variants of existing weapons - the AIM-9X short-range air-to-air missile and the AIM 120-D Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM).
Upgraded variants of each going into existing models of the F-22 jet fighter, have flown in combat exercises. Lockheed developers say 14 F-22s have been armed with the new weapons variants with more set for next year.
Related: F-35 air-to-air missiles can now hit two unmanned aircraft at once -- changing air combat
John Keller, chief editor
Military & Aerospace Electronics
