US Congress Debates Future of F-22 Block 20 as NGAD Program Pauses.

As the US Air Force considers its next steps for the manned Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) fighter in light of a "pause" announced on 30 July 2024 by Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall, some sentiment in Congress and within the Air Force is to retain the 32 Lockheed Martin F-22 Block 20 fighters as a fallback option to deter China and go to war if necessary.
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The F-22 Block 20, a variant of the F-22 Raptor, was produced and acquired in the early 2000s. Initially designed for training purposes, 32 Block 20 aircraft are currently in service (Picture source: US DoD)

The Air Force has requested congressional approval to divest the Block 20s and estimated that upgrading these Block 20s to the standard Block 30/35 configuration would cost $3.3 billion.

The F-22 Block 20, a variant of the F-22 Raptor, was produced and acquired in the early 2000s. Initially designed for training purposes, 32 Block 20 aircraft are currently in service. While these aircraft lack the full combat capabilities of the Block 30/35 variants, they can still be utilized in combat situations if necessary. The F-22 Block 20 features advanced stealth technology, supersonic cruise speed, and exceptional maneuverability, making it a crucial component for air superiority missions.

Despite being primarily used for training, the F-22 Block 20 possesses significant capabilities. It includes advanced sensor suites for tracking and identifying air-to-air threats and the ability to carry six AIM-120 AMRAAMs and two AIM-9 Sidewinders in its air-to-air configuration. Upgrading these aircraft to the Block 30/35 standard would enhance their avionics, sensors, and weapon systems, aligning them with modern combat requirements.

A modernization program for the remaining 154 F-22 Raptor "air superiority" fighters, including new cryptography, an expanded open architecture, new weapons, an infrared search and track sensor, and a "Project Keystone" effort to install an advanced threat warning receiver, is expected to cost more than $4.3 billion between fiscal years 2023 and 2029.

The F-22 team is working to execute a modernization roadmap to deploy advanced sensors, connectivity, weapons, and other capabilities relevant to the INDOPACOM theater. The Raptor team has recently conducted six flight test efforts to demonstrate and assess advanced sensors on the F-22 required to complete ongoing rapid prototyping for the program. This will lead to a decision on rapid fielding in the near future.

The F-22 is considered a bridge to deploying the NGAD, which will represent another generational leap in technology over the F-22 in terms of the NGAD family of systems and the ability to achieve air superiority in a future highly contested environment.

Air Force General Kenneth Wilsbach, head of Air Combat Command, stated that retaining the F-22 Block 20 is beneficial for training and that, even in an emergency, the Block 20 could be used in a combat situation.

Modernizing Block 20 to a war-ready status would not be a cheap or quick solution. Retaining Block 20 for training purposes is one thing, but using them in operations is another matter entirely.