F-22/F-35 ‘hybrid’ for US Air Force ?

Lockheed Martin are reportedly offering a ‘hybrid’ fighter type combining systems of its F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II (similar to the proposal for Japan) now for the US Air Force. This coincides with a USAF review of force structure that seeks to tackle future threats as laid out in the National Defence Strategy, outlining a requirement “to strike diverse targets inside adversary air and missile defence networks to destroy mobile power-projection platforms”.

The Lockheed F-22/F-35 hybrid would face, possibly compete with Boeing’s F-15X Eagle, but LM view the ‘upgraded Raptor’ as an interim step before fielding an all-new sixth-generation fighter utilising more exotic technologies. The USAF is already studying

a future combat aircraft under the Next Generation Air Dominance or Penetrating Counter Air Project. Lockheed are also looking at other options, including adding directed energy and electronic attack capabilities to its F-16, F-22 and F-35, as well as unspecified ‘structural changes’ and an enhanced powerplant for the F-35 Lightning II.