This Microwaves & RF article is reprinted here with permission.
The U.S. Air Force awarded a $10.8 billion, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (ID/IQ) contract to Lockheed Martin Corp. for Advanced Raptor Enhancement & Sustainment (ARES) for the F-22 Raptor Program Office. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, TX and is expected to be completed by October 31, 2031, as part of the ARES program to maintain, upgrade, and enhance the performance of the F-22 Raptor. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (Wright Patterson Air Force Base, OH) is the contracting activity
The F-22 Raptor, with high-speed maneuverability, suite of advanced sensors, and integrated avionics, is a critical component of the Global Strike Task Force, unmatched in capabilities by any other fighter aircraft. It provides long-distance protection for the U.S. Army, Navy, and Marine Corps forces and is designed for high-reliability air-to-air and air-to-ground missions (see the figure), arming its pilots with comprehensive situational awareness of threats. It is well equipped in all configurations with AIM-120 and AIM-9 missiles and with advanced munitions in air-to-ground configurations. The fighter’s powerful engines achieve supersonic speeds more than Mach 1.5 without the use of afterburners, a feature known as supercruise capability.