Lockheed Martin to Retrofit Sixth-Generation Capabilities into F-22 and F-35 Fighters

Lockheed Martin is preparing to integrate select sixth-generation technologies into the U.S. Air Force’s fifth-generation fighter fleet—specifically the F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II—as part of a broader strategy aligned with the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program. The effort aims to extend the relevance of legacy stealth platforms through modular upgrades in AI-enabled systems, advanced sensors, and multi-domain command-and-control capabilities.

Bridging Fifth and Sixth Generation Fighter Capabilities

The U.S. Air Force’s NGAD program is developing a family of systems expected to define air dominance for decades beyond 2030. While NGAD will eventually field a new manned platform alongside collaborative combat aircraft (CCAs), Lockheed Martin is now seeking to infuse some of these sixth-gen technologies into existing fifth-gen fighters.

Speaking at recent industry events including AFA Warfare Symposium 2024 and DSEI 2023, Lockheed executives emphasized that many NGAD-enabling technologies are “platform agnostic” and can be retrofitted into current airframes. This includes AI-driven decision support tools, advanced mission systems software architectures (e.g., Open Mission Systems), cognitive electronic warfare (EW), and multi-spectral sensor fusion.

“We’re not waiting for NGAD to arrive before fielding next-gen capabilities,” said Greg Ulmer, Executive VP of Lockheed’s Aeronautics division. “We’re already integrating key enablers into the F-22 and F-35 fleets.”

Key Technologies Targeted for Integration

The upgrade roadmap includes several high-impact technology areas:

• AI & Autonomy: Cognitive agents are being tested onboard both platforms for real-time threat prioritization and sensor management. These agents will also assist pilots in contested electromagnetic environments by automating defensive countermeasures.
• Sensor Fusion & Data Sharing: Enhancements in multi-spectral fusion engines are planned to improve situational awareness across domains—air, space, cyber—and enable seamless data sharing with CCAs or ground nodes via secure datalinks such as Link-16 or MADL.
• Cognitive Electronic Warfare: Adaptive EW suites capable of learning from adversary emissions in real time are under development for integration into both jets by late this decade.
• Open Systems Architecture: Both aircraft are being migrated toward open mission system frameworks that allow faster insertion of new software-defined capabilities without full requalification cycles.
• Pilot-Vehicle Interface (PVI): Helmet-mounted displays with augmented reality overlays and voice-command interfaces are being explored for future cockpit upgrades.

F-22 Raptor: A Testbed for NGAD Prototypes

The U.S. Air Force has increasingly used the aging but still formidable F-22 fleet as a surrogate testbed for NGAD-related technologies. In FY2023–2024 budget documents, the service outlined plans to integrate advanced software-defined radios (SDRs), open mission systems (OMS) middleware layers, and new electronic warfare processors onto select Raptors under its “Raptor Agile Capability Release” initiative.

This effort aligns with Lockheed’s stated goal of using the F-22 as a “pathfinder platform” for maturing sixth-gen technologies before they transition into NGAD’s manned platform or CCAs. The Air Force has allocated over $500 million through FY2026 for these upgrades despite plans to begin retiring older Block 20 Raptors later this decade.

F-35 Modernization Tracks Parallel Path

The Joint Strike Fighter program is concurrently undergoing its own modernization under Block 4 upgrades and Technology Refresh 3 (TR3). While not explicitly labeled as “sixth-gen,” many TR3 components mirror those envisioned in NGAD—including increased processing power via new core mission computers (CMC), enhanced EO/IR sensors like EOTS Gen III, and improved electronic warfare suites such as AN/ASQ-239(V)5.

The TR3 hardware suite began flight testing in early 2024 but has faced delays due to software integration challenges. However, once operational across all three variants (A/B/C), it will enable more rapid fielding of AI-driven applications—including predictive maintenance algorithms and semi-autonomous threat response tools.

Tactical Implications: Multi-Domain Synergy

The infusion of sixth-gen capabilities into legacy platforms supports broader USAF doctrine shifts toward Joint All-Domain Command & Control (JADC2). By enabling real-time data sharing between manned fighters like the F-35/F-22 and unmanned CCAs or ground-based fires networks, these upgrades enhance kill chain speed while reducing pilot workload in contested environments.

This approach also allows incremental capability insertion without waiting on full NGAD fielding timelines—which may stretch beyond FY2035 due to development complexity. Moreover, retrofitting current fleets ensures force survivability against near-peer threats like China’s J-20B or Russia’s Su-57M during this transitional decade.

A Modular Path Toward Future Air Dominance

Rather than treating fifth-generation platforms as static endpoints, Lockheed Martin’s strategy views them as evolving nodes within a distributed air combat network. This modular philosophy supports spiral development cycles where software-defined capabilities can be iteratively tested on operational aircraft before migrating upward into future platforms like NGAD or CCA swarms.

“We’re building an ecosystem—not just an aircraft,” said Ulmer during AFA Warfare Symposium. “That means every node—from an upgraded Raptor to an autonomous wingman—must speak the same digital language.”