I think while they didn't go for MADL in F-22 now, they probably will at some point. It definitely seems like F-22 community would like that and I'm sure F-35 community would like that too. Maybe next major upgrade?
I'm really intrigued about this comment:
In 2024, funding kicks in for sensor enhancements, a project that is expected to run for several years.
"What we’re looking for is a sensor to complement the radar that’s on the jet,” Merchant said.
There isn’t much detail available yet about upgrades that are still six years away, but he stressed that it goes back to the Raptor’s mantra of “first look, first shot, first kill.”
“I want to maintain that first-look capability and be able to get a shot off,” Merchant said. “So I need a target-quality track at extended ranges outside what my radar can do today.”
So some sensor that complements the radar while having longer range with target-quality track at those extended ranges? That sounds really interesting and I really wonder what this could be. With sensor fusion IRST could be that against VLO stealth targets, but that would require precise range information which could be only had with radar giving the range. In some cases triangulation might give that, but it's not that reliable method with IRST systems. I really doubt some new advanced ESM system could give target-quality tracks at extended ranges.