Lockheed, USAF Finishing F-22 Upgrade, Testing Data Link Mod

摘要

The U.S. Air Force and Lockheed Martin this month are finishing a major modernization program to integrate AIM-9X Block 2 and AIM-120D missiles onto the F-22, and recently began an incremental update program that will make the Raptor better able to communicate with other aircraft. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC) and Lockheed Martin said the Increment 3.2B/Update 6 hardware and software upgrades for the F-22 will be finished by the end of this month. The Increment 3.2B program dates back to a materiel development decision in December 2011 and an initial engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) contract in 2013. It integrates AIM-9X Block 2 Sidewinder and AIM-120D Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) onto the F-22 along with new electronic protection techniques, new hardware, enhanced geolocation capability and expanded Intra-Flight Data Link (IFDL) functionality. The program included upgrades to 143 production F-22s at an estimated total cost of $1.4 billion, a 2019 selected acquisition report says.