Aviation Specials — F-22 Raptor (2017)

US Navy F/A-18 operations from the USS

George H. W. Bush (CVN 77) operating in

the Persian Gulf. However, it was clear

that the US Air Force was in the region

and was playing a major role.

The quiet approach changed on the

night of September 22 as the US and key

Arab nation allies struck at the heart of IS

by attacking targets in its stronghold in

Raqqa Province, Syria. The following day,

the Pentagon’s Press Secretary RADM

John Kirby announced: ‘I can con rm

that US military and partner nation

forces are undertaking military action

against ISIL terrorists in Syria using a mix

of  ghter, bomber and Tomahawk Land

Attack Missiles.’ It was also con rmed

that F-22 Raptors had taken part in the

second wave of strikes on targets in Syria

generate and [rapidly] move small cells

of  fth-generation jets’ unencumbered

by huge numbers of tankers and

airlifters. It was a blueprint for a nimble,

rapid response force, optimised

for a real-world, short-notice crisis.

Sutter eld’s vision of putting Raptors

overseas was tested in joint exercises at

Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska,

in August 2013, and has since been

exercised in Europe.

COMBAT DEBUT

When the US military started air strikes

on so-called Islamic State (IS) targets in

Iraq on August 8, 2014 under Operation

‘Inherent Resolve’, the US Air Force was

low key regarding its initial involvement.

Most media coverage surrounded the

Above left to right:

27th FS Raptors  y

in formation during

a training mission on

December 9, 2009, in the

Central Command area

of responsibility for the

 rst time during a large

exercise with France,

Jordan, Pakistan, the

UAE and the UK. USAF/

SSgt Michael B. Keller

An F-22 Raptor tops up

its tanks from a KC-10 en

route to Syria during a

mission on September

26 as part of a strike

package engaging IS

targets. USAF/

TSgt Russ Scalf

RAPTOR^85

82-93 Frontline C.indd 85 28/09/2017 15:01