It was a subtle display of the stealthy abilities and technological superiority of this aircraft, the F-22 Raptor proved second to none when it sneaked on an Iranian F-4 Phantom undetected. The incident unfolded when Iranian pilots, attempting to intercept a U.S. MQ-1 Predator drone, were taken aback to find an F-22 Raptor shadowing them.
It was during this encounter that the F-22 Raptor, belonging to the 1st Fighter Wing based in Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, turned off its targeting radar to demonstrate the aircraft’s ability to remain stealthy. The jet has been called the pinnacle of modern engineering, with state-of-the-art stealth, supercruise speed, and super-maneuverability. The F-22 was able to fly undetected by radar, positioning itself unseen under the Iranian F-4s; the pilots were completely unaware.
Former Air Force Chief of Staff General Mark Welsh mentioned the skill of the pilot: “He flew under their aircraft to check out their weapons load without them knowing he was there.” It is in this cloak-and-dagger operation that the sensor fusion technology of the F-22 made the difference. The Iranian pilots were only aware of the F-22 when it flew alongside them, at which point they retreated.
This incident is another indication of the tensions that have been brewing between the two nations since the late 1970s. Nuclear program negotiations are currently underway, and both nations will always continue to teeter through such delicate encounters to prevent further escalation.
The F-16, another U.S. fighter, also made headlines as of late, with its historical achievements and current missions. For instance, an F-16 flying over the Strait of Hormuz made eyes pop when it became known that this particular aircraft had three air-to-air kills; it was part of a bigger mission in the area to deter Iran from seizing oil tankers. Specifically, this F-16, tail number 2137, is assigned to the 555th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, forward deployed from Aviano Air Base in Italy.
The three green stars on Tail 2137 reflect an event significant to air combat history. Then-Capt. Robert Gordon “Wilbur” Wright scored a single-mission triple kill over Bosnia and Herzegovina on 28 February 1994, while supporting Operation Deny Flight. This was the first single-mission triple kill by a U.S. Air Force pilot since the Korean War. Wright shot down three Serbian J-21 Jastreb fighters using an AIM-120 AMRAAM and two AIM-9 Sidewinders within minutes of each other.
The legacy continues from this single-seat, multi-mission fighter as it participates in current operations to stabilize the region. Presence in the vicinity includes A-10s and U.S. naval vessels, which deter Iranian aggression in maintaining the safety of commercial vessels. Additional assets, like F-35 Joint Strike Fighters and the USS Bataan amphibious assault ship, will be deployed in a move meant to underscore strategic importance in the region.
The legendary history and continuing contributions of the F-16 to U.S. military operations demonstrate the continuing importance of air superiority in modern warfare. The capabilities of such highly advanced aircraft remain insignificant regarding maintaining global security during very long years of persisting tensions and new challenges.