During a recent meeting with business leaders in Doha, U.S. President Donald Trump announced his intention to modernize the F-22 Raptor fighter jet and revealed preliminary plans for the development of a new combat aircraft, which would be designated the F-55. Trump’s statements, made in the context of trade agreements between the U.S. and Qatar, included direct references to Boeing, GE Aerospace, and Lockheed Martin—the leading players in the American aerospace sector.
Trump stated that the plan involves developing a deeply modernized version called the F-22 Super. This proposal aligns with recent efforts by the Pentagon to extend the Raptor’s service life and capabilities. The F-22 has historically been the most advanced air superiority fighter in service with the U.S. Air Force. As part of the ongoing efforts to update its combat capabilities, Lockheed Martin was awarded a new modernization contract earlier this year, which includes the integration of the TacIRST infrared search and track system—a capability omitted from the F-22’s original design due to budget constraints.
The addition of the TacIRST addresses a critical need: the emergence of stealth fighters such as China’s J-20 and Russia’s Su-57 has challenged U.S. air dominance, highlighting the Raptor’s lack of an IRST (Infrared Search and Track) system. This shortcoming, noted by various experts, limits the F-22’s ability to detect threats in high-tech environments. The modernization aims to address this gap and adapt to an increasingly competitive strategic landscape.
In parallel, Trump proposed the development of the F-55, a new twin-engine fighter jet that he described as a “super upgrade of the F-35.” Unlike the F-35 Lightning II, which has a single engine, the hypothetical F-55 would incorporate two engines, implying a completely new design rather than a simple variant. According to Trump, the F-55 would offer superior capabilities at a more competitive cost—a vision that appears to align with recent statements from Lockheed Martin regarding the utilization of sixth-generation technologies developed for failed programs, such as their proposal for the NGAD contract, which was ultimately awarded to Boeing.
Defense analysts have interpreted that the F-55 may be linked to the U.S. Navy’s F/A-XX program, which aims to replace the F/A-18 Super Hornet. Regarding this program, the U.S. Navy and Congress are currently in a tug-of-war with the Trump administration to proceed with awarding a contract.
While the announcement of the F/A-XX winner was expected in March, budgetary issues put on hold what would be the first step in advancing the development of a future sixth-generation fighter. However, it remains unclear how the development of the F-55 would be coordinated with the already ongoing Boeing F-47 project—considered the sixth-generation manned fighter supported by unmanned vehicles, and which is intended precisely to replace the F-22.
The potential simultaneous development of an upgraded F-22 “Super” and the F-55 raises questions about budgetary priorities, industrial timelines, and the feasibility of sustaining multiple advanced fighter programs in parallel. For now, Trump’s statements reflect an ambitious vision to strengthen U.S. air superiority through the renewal of the Raptor and the creation of a new platform that would surpass the F-35 in capability and efficiency.
Images used for illustrative purposes only.
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