US media recently revealed that the US Air Force has finally decided to install an "infrared search and tracking system" on its strongest fighter jet, the F-22. According to US media, this system was initially cancelled due to budget cuts, but as the US military shifts its focus to the "high-end threat" posed by China and Russia, F-22 fighter jets equipped with this system will gain an advantage. However, American media also acknowledges that installing this system on the F-22 fighter jet is undoubtedly a challenge, and there are still many issues that need to be overcome.

Screenshot of the "War Zone" column report on the "Power" website

On January 13th, the "Theater" column of the US "Power" website reported that the US Air Force has finally launched a plan to integrate the Infrared Search and Tracking System (IRST) on the F-22 Raptor fighter jet. Under the initial Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF) program of the US Air Force, the F-22 was originally equipped with this system, which could detect and track aircraft, including stealth fighters, at long distances. However, due to cost control requirements, this system was eventually cancelled. Now, the US Air Force is studying how to integrate this feature back into the F-22 fighter jet. According to reports, the US Air Force has proposed the need to integrate IRST system and other new upgrades for the F-22 fighter jet in a latest document released under the "Small Business Innovation and Development" project. The F-22 Fighter Program Office is seeking new hardware and software solutions to develop remote infrared sensing and target detection capabilities. If a product that meets the requirements can be developed, the US Air Force will evaluate it and integrate it into the F-22 fighter jet. The report mentioned that the initial version of the F-22 fighter jet was characterized by its advanced IRST system, which was rare in Western fighter design at the time. However, when the F-22 fighter jet was put into production, it was not equipped with the IRST system. The lack of IRST system is just one of the many functions lost by the F-22 fighter jet, including the side view radar array installed on both sides of the nose, which became the "sacrificial lamb" of early budget cuts in the project.According to reports, as the US Air Force and even the US military increasingly shift their attention to the "high-end threats" posed by China and Russia, installing the IRST system on the US Air Force's most powerful fighter jets will provide them with an advantage, and the value of this fighter jet will be reflected, especially when facing more complex opponents.The report also stated that the IRST system allows F-22 fighter jets to detect combat targets without activating onboard radar, providing "another level of protection". The advanced IRST system can also detect targets that cannot be detected by radar, such as stealth fighters, drones, bombers, and even cruise missiles, all of which could be encountered in a confrontation with China or Russia.

The F-35 fighter jet is equipped with EOTS electro-optical aiming system below the nose of the aircraft

However, the 'theater' also analyzed that integrating IRST system sensors into existing F-22 fighter jets is undoubtedly a challenge. Adding an external pod would compromise the stealth performance of the F-22 fighter jet, which has been carefully designed; Installing sensors inside fighter jets is a feasible solution, but it may require significant rework and modifications, as well as consideration of the impact on the overall stealth performance of the aircraft. Another issue to consider is whether the internal space and related cooling capacity previously reserved for the IRST system are still sufficient.

Source: Military of Strong Countries