Lockheed Martin was awarded a $10.9 billion USAF contract to modernize the F-22 Raptor.
The indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity agreement for the Advanced Raptor Enhancement and Sustainment (ARES) program will cover up to a decade of maintenance and modernization of the fighter.
As reported by Defense News, the contract will cover services including upgrades, improvements, and fixes to the F-22. Lockheed will also provide logistics services and modernization hardware kit procurement. The tasks detailed in the award solicitation will be performed at Lockheed Martin’s Fort Worth, Texas, facility.
This F-22 upgrade has been under negotiation since at least 2020, when interest was officially expressed in extending the Raptor’s service life at least until its 6th generation replacement is at the Initial Operational Capability stage.
While the details of the modernization are not known – nor will they be, given the sensitivity of the aircraft’s current performance data – the radar transition to the APG-81 used by the F-35 Lightning II is estimated to be number one.
