Boeing 757 Testbed Photographed Carrying Infrared Sensor Pod for F-22 Testing

Boeing’s 757 testbed aircraft, registration N757A, was photographed carrying a stealthy underwing infrared sensor pod under its fuselage while on approach to Edwards Air Force Base, California. The photograph was taken on Monday. @TheWarZoneWire reported the sighting.

N757A is the first Boeing 757 ever built and first flew in 1982. The aircraft has a heavily modified nose replicating the F-22’s nose profile and contains an AN/APG-77 AESA radar. It also has swept antennas mounted above the cockpit for testing the F-22’s AN/ALR-94 electronic support measures system.

N757A contains a replica of the F-22 cockpit and additional internal test equipment. It has supported F-22 systems integration testing since the 1990s. 0” upgrade package.

The stealthy infrared sensor pods have been test-flown on actual F-22 aircraft for years. An F-22 carrying the stealthy underwing infrared sensor pods and drop tanks was photographed on a test flight over the Mojave Desert in March 2026. A Rockwell Sabreliner 65, registration N33TR, has been used to test the same infrared pods.

N33TR was photographed returning to KJWY/Mid-Way Regional Airport as “AIRBORNE33” after testing at Nellis AFB alongside NT-43A. The photograph of N33TR was posted on July 1, 2024. U.S. Air Force plans to install a new integrated distributed infrared search and track system called the Infrared Defensive System (IRDS) on F-22s.

0 upgrade include new stealthy drop tanks, improvements to stealth features, radar capabilities, and electronic warfare suite. At least a portion of the F-22 fleet will receive modifications to act as airborne controllers for Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) drones.