How the F 22 Is Getting Software Updates Faster Than Ever
From Aerospace & Defense Technology by SAE Media Group
March 30, 2026 · 14 min · Season 14 · Episode 1
About this episode
The episode discusses how Defense Unicorns enables faster software updates for the F-22 Raptor.
Defense Unicorns, a Colorado-based startup, recently demonstrated a key enabler for continuoussoftware delivery to the F-22 Raptor. For the first time, software in the F-22 open mission system compute enclave was installed and upgraded on the aircraft in a matter of minutes . On this episode of the Aerospace & Defense Technologypodcast, the CEO of Defense Unicorns explains how their secure software delivery technology enables faster, repeatable updates to flight‑critical systems without changing the aircraft’s underlying hardware. He walks through the Air Force demonstration showcasing how new F‑22 mission capabilities can be packaged, deployed, and updated more rapidly than traditional methods allow. The conversation highlights what was delivered during the demo and why this approach represents a major shift in how legacy fighter platforms can receive software-driven upgrades at speed. Season 14 of the Aerospace & Defense Technology podcast is sponsored by Smithers .
People in this episode
Guest: CEO of Defense Unicorns
Topics covered
- software updates
- F-22 Raptor
- defense technology
- continuous delivery
- military aviation
Keywords
- software delivery
- F-22 updates
- flight-critical systems
- military software
- defense innovation
Sponsors
Smithers
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Air Force
Products: F-22 Raptor
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