Stealthy external pod seen on a F-22

jessmo112 · by **jessmo112** » 08 Feb 2022, 23:14

: James Reeder Photography

: James Reeder Photography

More at:

F-22 Raptor Spotted Flying With Stealthy Underwing Pods
The pods are likely part of an ongoing initiative to retain the F-22's potency until its replacement arrives.
By Tyler Rogoway - Feb 8, 2022

See: https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/4 ... rwing-pods

jessmo112 · by **jessmo112** » 08 Feb 2022, 23:16

Let the speculation begin.
This looks far to small for internal Amraams
Maybe it's a jammer or something.

usafhk · by **usafhk** » 09 Feb 2022, 00:13

Stealth travel pod.

The golf clubs have to go somewhere.

Corsair1963 · by **Corsair1963** » 09 Feb 2022, 01:13

Wild guess but I would go with "Jammer" of some type...

ChippyHo · by **ChippyHo** » 09 Feb 2022, 01:59

Photon torpedo tubes :slap:

Corsair1963 · by **Corsair1963** » 09 Feb 2022, 03:10

ChippyHo wrote:Photon torpedo tubes

Those are only available on the Canadian Version! :wink:

jessmo112 · by **jessmo112** » 09 Feb 2022, 03:18

Maybe they are going ahead with a stealthy Airst.
We talked about this months ago.

viewtopic.php?f=33&t=25562&start=30

sprstdlyscottsmn · by **sprstdlyscottsmn** » 09 Feb 2022, 12:40

The front shaping jives with that, but not the apparent materials. This could be a loads test mockup

mmm · by **mmm** » 09 Feb 2022, 14:12

The front is close to the shape of an IRST fairing, it's way too small to be an offensive jammer, F-22 doesn't need more ESM aperture, and it doesn't make sense to add more complicating antenna aperture for limited self protection in radio frequency to a stealthy fighter if it doesn't address the supposed UHF/VHF frequency flaw. Plus you have APG-77 for that.

From just the pictures at the moment my 2c is with IRST. But if they're validating aerodynamics now the design is likely locked in and maybe close to production. If that's the case in operation only 1 is carried as awkward as it may look? Or pair option for maximum field of view?

mixelflick · by **mixelflick** » 09 Feb 2022, 14:26

Between this and the reflective metallic coating, things sure are getting interesting.

They've apparently been true to their word with respect to upgrades to keep it ahead of the threats. The 9x Block II, the AIM-120D, helmet mounted sight (is that still coming)? and now this.. I'm not sure what else they can do to improve her, short of new motors - which clearly won't be happening. Nor is it needed, methinks.

We didn't get nearly as many as we needed, but at least they're keeping it current to outpace the threat. It may yet get its opportunity to shine with the recent European deployment/Ukraine situation. Hopefully, just the "message" that deployment sends can keep it from happening. Unlikely though, considering the vast number of Russian assets now in theater. Including I read today Mig-31K's with Kinzal hypersonic missiles.

Yikes.

hornetfinn · by **hornetfinn** » 09 Feb 2022, 14:33

Pair would definitely have wider field of view and that would also allow for accurate long-range passive ranging capability given the wide separation of the sensors. I also think that these are IRST systems for what mmm said.

mmm · by **mmm** » 09 Feb 2022, 15:49

hornetfinn wrote:Pair would definitely have wider field of view and that would also allow for accurate long-range passive ranging capability given the wide separation of the sensors. I also think that these are IRST systems for what mmm said.

It does give me second thoughts on my guess, if nothing else no one has slapped 2 identical pods on the same airframe despite the benefits in theory. So it would be atypical to do so at least.

The other possibility I could think of is that they have split functionalities like Lantirn though not in the exact same fashion. Maybe frequency band, laser, what not but in any case meant to operate in pairs as a full suite. But they do look identical externally.

Interestingly there's no visible air intake(maybe recessed ones on the sides? I can't say for sure), if EO only you can probably make cooling and power work, less likely with active RF.

charlielima223 · by **charlielima223** » 10 Feb 2022, 11:00

fang · by **fang** » 10 Feb 2022, 20:07

- If these elements are Pods then why the Fiducial Markers?
The use of FM is to analyze weapons and other means release experiments
- Looks like the heads of the elements have windows like some modern missiles got (JSM/NSM/SOM) to contain sensors such as EO, imaging, IR and so on..
- Could it be a new stealthy missile in the early stage of testing (body only)?

mmm · by **mmm** » 10 Feb 2022, 23:38

fang wrote:- If these elements are Pods then why the Fiducial Markers?
The use of FM is to analyze weapons and other means release experiments
- Looks like the heads of the elements have windows like some modern missiles got (JSM/NSM/SOM) to contain sensors such as EO, imaging, IR and so on..
- Could it be a new stealthy missile in the early stage of testing (body only)?

That's a possibility as no one really knows anything for sure. I find that a bit too much of an effort to align the edge with F-22's in particular, unnecessarily slim with unnatural tapering at the tail for A-G munition, and having too many features omitted like inlets or folding wing surfaces to be of much testing value even as inert article. Also one could argue turning F-22 into a cruise missile carrier isn't very pressing.

Although assuming they are EO pods I wonder how much it could expand F-22's A-G self targeting if there's such capability at all. If nothing else SDB II/Stormbreaker was fit checked on the internal stations.