The low-drag external fuel tanks and pylons Lockheed Martin is developing for the F-22 Raptor could be integrated with other fighter jets, such as the F-35, according to a company official.
The F-22 Low Drag Tank and Pylon (LDTP) is one capability being developed for the fifth-generation aircraft to keep up with adversary advances through 2030.
The aircraft is expected to be phased out in the 2030s, being replaced by the Next Generation Air Dominance system.
Other capabilities being developed for the aircraft include a pair of underwing faceted pods, which is likely to be an infrared search and track system.
F-22 as Surrogate for Other Platforms
Some of the capabilities would be passed on to other aircraft, including the F-35 and the Next Generation Air Dominance platform, Air and Space Forces Magazine wrote, citing the head of Lockheed’s Integrated Fighter Group, OJ Sanchez.
“That really is the kind of thinking that we talk about every day as an industry partner; is, ‘how do we do this integration work the best we can so that there’s opportunities for reuse on other platforms?’”
Low Drag Tank and Pylon
The LDTPs are intended to add range to the aircraft without affecting speed and maneuverability, unlike the existing external tanks.
The aircraft has flown operationally with 600-gallon fuel tanks for years that can be jettisoned, along with the pylons, for improved speed and maneuverability.
Dumping the two appendages also increases the aircraft’s stealth.
Following the dumping, however, the partially exposed connection points and plumbing still increase the aircraft’s radar cross-section, The War Zone explained.
Stealthy Design
According to the outlet, the LDTP’s new efficient design would leave “very little, if any, radar cross-section disruption compared to a ‘clean’ F-22 once the tanks and pylons are jettisoned.”
Similarly, the stealth tanks and pylons could provide similar capability upgrades to the F-35 “while simultaneously reducing the burden on aerial tankers,” Air and Space Forces Magazine said.
“Looking across … the airpower solutions, and if there is an applicability [on another platform], we will do everything we can to build that capability in,” the outlet quoted Sanchez as saying.
