The United States Air Force (US) has begun work on integrating an infrared
search and track sensor (IRST) into the F-22 Raptor stealth fighter jet.
This sophisticated tool will make the plane a deadly scourge for other
stealth fighters.
The IRST technology, which offers the special ability to detect and track
other stealth aircraft, drones, and long-range missiles without the use of
radar, was originally planned under the Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF)
program. However, it was eventually canceled due to financial constraints.
The Air Force is now considering reintroducing the capability into aircraft.
US F-22s In Seconds Now, a document issued under the Small Business
Innovation Research (SBIR) program cited by the EurAsian Times, Saturday
(15/1/2022), has requested submissions relating to the new IRST capabilities
and additional upgrades to the F-22. -22.
The document states that the F-22 Program Office is seeking new hardware and
software solutions that enable remote infrared sensing and object
recognition capabilities.
If the contractor can come up with a solution that meets the requirements,
the Air Force will assess its compatibility with the F-22 Raptor. The F-22
will be equipped with a state-of-the-art IRST at a time when such technology
is not common in Western warplanes.
However, in pre-production, the IRST installation was not performed. The
sensor was one of many features trimmed early in development, including a
side-view airborne radar array (SLAR) that would be mounted on the side of
the jet's diamond-shaped nose.
The main task at hand is to figure out how to incorporate the IRST sensor
into the existing F-22. The low quality the Raptor can carefully observe can
be compromised if additional pods are installed.
The sensors can be installed internally, though, it would definitely require
a major rebuild which would impact the aircraft's total radar signature.
Then there's the issue of whether the originally designated IRST interior
space as well as sufficient cooling is still available, given a series of
in-service improvements have been made to this equipment.
In 2017, Ken Merchant, then VP of Lockheed Martin's F-22 Program told Air
Force Magazine: "We really don't have the real estate to fit an internal
IRST on a jet. We're looking at other options."
One alternative is to incorporate IRST-like features into one of the F-22's
current sensors, the AN/AAR-56 or MLD Missile Launch Detection system. This
technology allows Raptor pilots to perform 360-degree monitoring of air and
surface-launched missile threats.
The MLD system is mounted on the skin of the aircraft and includes six
sensors hidden by a low-observable window, consisting of a series of optical
components and assemblies. The AN/AAR-56 is a little-known system over the
F-22, and its specific capabilities are unknown.
However, the system is well established, and additional components based on
cutting-edge technology may have the potential to provide more comprehensive
infrared search and tracking capabilities, enabling it to follow many
aircraft and missile targets beyond visual range.
Modern IRST sensors, such as the IRST21 will allow Raptor pilots to quickly
identify and track threats beyond visual range. The sensors will offer
additional targeting data and allow the stealth fighter to attack enemies
passively without emitting radar emissions. This is a very important feature
for stealth aircraft.
The US is currently focusing more on the high-end threats posed by China and
Russia and integrating the IRST into its most powerful fighter aircraft
would give it an added edge. Simultaneously, the F-22 can strike targets
without using its own radar. This will add another layer of defense against
missile threats.
The AN/APG-77 AESA radar mounted on the F-22 Raptor has some of the best low
probability interception (LPI) characteristics, making it difficult for
enemy sensors to detect it, let alone geolocate.
In addition, the spectrum of aerial threats that the IRST F-22 will assist
in acquiring and engaging plays a role in critical situations. The
state-of-the-art IRST can identify objects that ordinary radar cannot see,
such as fighting stealth fighter jets, drones, bombers, and even cruise
missiles.
