The Boeing 757 known as “Catfish,” one of the most important test platforms of the United States Air Force, was seen carrying a new infrared sensor pod linked to the modernization program of the F-22 Raptor fighter jet.
The aircraft, which has supported Raptor development since the 1990s, was photographed during a landing at Edwards Air Force Base in California, showing the equipment installed under the fuselage for the first time.
The new sensor is part of the upgrade package known as Raptor 2.0, which aims to expand the F-22’s capabilities against modern threats. Catfish was adapted to replicate several of the fighter jet’s systems, including the AN/APG-77 AESA radar and components of the aircraft’s sensor suite, making it an ideal platform to validate new technologies before their integration into the operational fleet.
Among the expected new features is the adoption of IRST systems, capable of detecting and tracking targets through thermal signatures. This technology has gained relevance in recent years for offering advantages against stealth aircraft and for operating passively, without emitting signals that reveal its position. The use of Catfish allows extended tests to be carried out at lower costs than directly employing the F-22s, which are known for their complex maintenance and high fuel consumption.
In addition to infrared sensors, the Raptor 2.0 program includes improvements in stealth, electronic warfare, radar and external fuel tanks. Some F-22s are also expected to be adapted to control collaborative combat drones in the future. Despite the advanced age of Catfish, which made its first flight in 1982, the aircraft continues to play a strategic role in the development of technologies that will keep the Raptor in operation for several decades.
1.-🧵El Boeing 757, plataforma de pruebas voladoras, fue avistado recientemente transportando un módulo de sensores infrarrojos sigilosos bajo el fuselaje, oculto bajo las alas. Esta podría ser la primera vez que esta aeronave, más conocida como «El Pez Gato» debido a su singular… pic.twitter.com/RQuyg0wR2V
— Don Pato InfoWars (@Donpatoinfowars) June 12, 2026
+ Marine F/A-18 fighter jet crashes in Washington and sparks wildfire
+ Russian Tu-22M3 bomber crashes in Siberia during training flight
Source: The War Zone | Photo: X @EdwardsAFB | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
