F-22 Raptor Engines Get Software Boost to Extend Service Life
The United States Air Force is working to extend the operational life of its F-22 Raptor fleet through the 2030s and into the 2040s with a significant software update to its engines. The Pratt & Whitney F119 engines, which power the F-22, are receiving a major upgrade as part of a midlife refit. This includes a software update that increases thrust and improves maintenance efficiency through real-time data tracking.
In February 2025, RTX, the parent company of Pratt & Whitney, secured a three-year contract worth up to $1.5 billion to sustain the F-22's F119 engines. The contract aims to improve readiness and reduce costs for a fleet of over 400 engines that have logged more than 900,000 flight hours. The Usage-Based Lifing (UBL) program leverages real-time data to enhance maintenance efficiency, extend engine life, and improve kinematic performance through an updated engine control schedule.
The F-22's F119 engines produce over 35,000 lbf of thrust, enabling the aircraft to achieve supercruise speeds of up to Mach 1.5 without using the afterburner. This capability significantly increases the Raptor's supersonic range compared to previous-generation fighters like the F-15. The software update is part of an 'incremental modernization' effort to keep the F-22 at the forefront of air superiority as the Air Force awaits the introduction of the next-generation Boeing F-47 fighter.
Despite the Air Force's optimism about the F-47's development, uncertainties remain. Delays in the F-47 program could necessitate further extensions of the F-22's service life. The UBL system is expected to deliver approximately $800 million in savings over the program's life cycle by providing maintenance based on actual wear and tear rather than historical data.