F-22A Upgrades
On Sept. 17, 2002 Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John P. Jumper announced a change in the designation of the F-22 Raptor to F/A-22 at the 2002 Air Force Association National Convention. The change was meant to more accurately reflect the aircraft's multimission roles and capabilities in contemporary strategic environments. However, the designation reverted to F-22 in December 2005.
On 24 July 2012, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said he was satisfied the Air Force had identified the cause of hypoxia-like symptoms 12 F-22 pilots suffered, linking the incidents to a defect in the pilots' pressure garment vest. Pilots used the vest to combat G-forces generated flying the high-performance aircraft. The vest functioned by inflating to stop blood from pooling, which would cause pilots to black out during high-speed turns. The Air Force had found that a faulty valve caused the vest to inflate and remain inflated under conditions where it was not designed to inflate, thereby causing breathing problems for some pilots. The use of the garment had been suspended in June 2012 as part of the investigation into the source of hypoxia-like symptoms experienced by some pilots dating back to 2008. The problem had not been identified during initial F-22 testing. In addition, the Air Force removed a canister filter from the oxygen delivery system, and that has increased the volume of air flowing to pilots. The filter had been added as part of initial attempts to solve the issue. The Air Force was also looking at improving the oxygen delivery hose and its connections.
As a result of the findings and immediate changes, Secretary Panetta decided to lift flight restrictions that had been placed on the aircraft in May 2012 gradually. As of 24 July 2012, F-22s could resume long-duration flights for deployments, aircraft deliveries and repositioning of aircraft. Long duration flight routes would still be designed to pass near airfields. The Air Force also imposed an altitude restriction on the aircraft so pilots would not need to wear the pressure vest. Training sorties were to remain near runways until completion of the Air Force Scientific Advisory Board-recommended corrective actions. This was expected by the end of summer 2012. The Air Force was to notify Secretary Panetta when fixes were finished with the pressure vest and related cockpit life support components. Pending successful completion of associated testing and NASA's independent analysis, Secretary Panetta could decide to return the F-22 fleet status to normal operations.
On 1 August 2012, the director of operations for the Air Force's Air Combat Command Major General Charles Lyon said at a briefing at the Pentagon that the source of previously unexplained physiological incidents had been "determined with confidence." General Lyon pinpointed the upper pressure garment, oxygen delivery hoses, quick connection points and on occasion, the air filter canister, as root causes of previously unexplained physiological incidents in which some pilots complained of hypoxia-like symptoms. In addition to testing aircraft and associated equipment, the Air Force's investigative process also involved canvassing the F-22 communities to gauge pilot, maintainer and family member confidence in the aircraft's safety. General Lyon, however, added that there would undoubtably be physiological incidents in the future in the F-22 and in other aircraft, and that it was an associated risk in the operation of high-performance fighter aircraft. General Lyon said that the root causes of the issues with the F-22 remained unknown for such a long period of time were what caused concern to the Air Force.
Lockheed Martin received a $270 million contract from the U.S. Air Force January 22, 2025 to integrate a system of next-generation infrared defensive sensors on the F-22 Raptor. The F-22 will soon feature a newly developed, distributed set of embedded TacIRST sensors developed by Lockheed Martin to enhance aircraft survivability and lethality, known as the Infrared Defensive System (IRDS). In addition to managing integration of IRDS on the F-22, the company will also support integration on other platforms.
"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 Missions Systems at Lockheed Martin. "We're committed to supporting the Air Force through continuous innovation of capabilities to deter and defeat evolving threats." Justin Taylor, vice president, F-22 program at Lockheed Martin added: "Lockheed Martin is proud to continue partnering with the Air Force on essential modernization efforts for the Raptor, leveraging our expertise in 5th Generation aircraft and air dominance systems to integrate capabilities that ensure uninterrupted U.S. air superiority today and into the future."
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