F-22
A Raptors from the 94th Fighter Squadron at Langley AFB, Va., have been consorting with other US aircraft and coalition air in their first appearance at the Nellis AFB, Nev., Red Flag that ends today. The 94th FS deployed 14 Raptors and 197 personnel to Nellis, where pairing the Raptors with earlier stealth aircraft—the B-2 and F-117—provided an “unprecedented” opportunity to showcase how the F-22 enhances the other aircraft’s lethality, according to Lt. Col. Dirk Smith, 94th FS commander. He also noted that the Raptor pilots were “experiencing a tremendous learning curve” by operating with coalition aircraft and against the well-trained Nellis aggressor force.
The U.S. military is maintaining a beefed-up presence in the Middle East, including fighters and air defense assets, following the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities June 22 and subsequent retaliation by the Iranians against Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.
