The United States F-22 Raptor fifth-generation fighter jet has flown with a new target detection system designed to engage stealth aircraft, according to a report by Military Watch Magazine.
Eyewitnesses spotted the aircraft carrying an Infrared Search and Track System pod beneath its wing. Technical markings on the airframe indicate that the fighter is undergoing flight testing.
Military Watch Magazine noted that the addition of the pod will turn the F-22 into an effective hunter against stealth aircraft. The passive detection system enables the jet to locate and track targets using their infrared heat emissions while the attacking aircraft remains invisible.
The publication reported that passive sensors are especially valuable for stealth aircraft because they operate without emitting radar signals that could allow enemy sensors to pinpoint the location of the fighter.
Infrared tracking technology
The F-22 Raptor, manufactured by Lockheed Martin, is a twin-engine fifth-generation air superiority fighter developed for the United States Air Force. Active radar systems detect aircraft by transmitting radio frequency signals, but stealth aircraft use specialized geometry and radar-absorbent materials to minimize their radar signature. Infrared Search and Track technology bypasses these radar defenses by scanning for thermal radiation produced by aircraft engines and atmospheric friction.
Infrared sensors were widely integrated into fourth-generation fighter jets to complement radar. Operating a passive tracking sensor allows a stealth fighter to hunt opposing aircraft without broadcasting high-powered radar transmissions across the electromagnetic spectrum, preserving its low-observable advantage during tactical engagements.
Fifth generation stealth capabilities
In April, American military publication 19FortyFive reported that fifth-generation F-35 Lightning II fighters, which succeeded the F-22, are inferior to the F-22 in overall air combat effectiveness.
The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II is a single-engine multirole stealth aircraft designed for strike and ground attack missions as well as air combat. While the F-35 features built-in electro-optical targeting systems, early production models of the F-22 Raptor entered operational service without internal infrared search equipment, relying primarily on active radar and data links.
The appearance of technical markings during the recent test flight indicates that engineers are evaluating the wing-mounted pod to expand the operational combat capabilities of the F-22 stealth fleet.
