A file photo of an F-22 Raptor combat aircraft. The USAF is sending 12 of its premier air-to-air fighters to the Middle East as part of a wider build up to counter any Iranian threat to Israel. (Janes/Patrick Allen)
The US Air Force (USAF) has deployed 12 Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor fighter aircraft as part of a wider build up of forces geared at deterring and/or countering an anticipated Iranian strike against Israel.
The ‘fifth-generation' low observable (LO) jets were recorded arriving from their home station of Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska into the US base of Royal Air Force (RAF) Lakenheath in England on 6 August, before being forward deployed to an undisclosed location in the US Central Command (CENTCOM) area of responsibility.
The deployment of the USAF's premier air-to-air fighter came days after the US Department of Defense (DoD) said on 2 August that it would send an additional fighter squadron to the Middle East as the Biden administration beefs up its military presence in the region. This followed the Islamic Republic of Iran threatening retaliatory action against Israel after the assassination of a Hamas leader in Tehran.
The F-22 is an air-dominance platform that is arguably without equal in terms of its LO and air-combat capabilities. For the air-to-air role, the aircraft's internal weapons bays can carry six RTX Raytheon AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAMs) and two RTX Raytheon AIM-9 Sidewinder short-range air-to-air missiles, plus it is equipped with an M61A2 20 mm internal Gatling gun with 480 rounds.
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