F‑22 raptors bolster Middle East defences amid rising tensions
The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) has announced that F-22 Raptor fighters have arrived in the Middle East. These aircraft's capabilities have been deployed to the region to support Israel and act as a deterrent against its enemies.
Since October 2023, Israel has been fighting Hezbollah and Hamas. Additionally, both Israel and its allies must contend with continuous attacks from Yemeni Houthi rebels, who periodically disrupt maritime trade routes or American reconnaissance drones. In recent days, the situation has become even more tense as Iran has not ruled out an attack on Israel.
F-22 Raptor in the Middle East
The F-22 Raptors are joining other American aircraft stationed in the Middle East. Periodic rotation of the equipment occurs in the area. This time, as CENTCOM stated on its X profile, it is due to "wanting to alleviate possible escalation in the area caused by Iran and its allies."
The F-22 Raptor is an American air superiority fighter produced by Lockheed Martin and Boeing. Serial production of this aircraft began in 1997 and continued until 2011. This resulted in around 200 units being created, none of which have ever entered service in any army other than the American one.
Among the most frequently mentioned characteristics of the F-22 Raptor are its stealth technology (low observability) and supercruise, which can reach supersonic speeds without using afterburners.
F-22 Raptor adapted to various weapons
The F-22 Raptor measures almost 19 metres in length and over 5 metres in height. It is standardly equipped with a 20 mm M61 Vulcan cannon, but it poses a significantly greater threat when carrying additional weapons it is compatible with. These can include AIM-120 AMRAAM or AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles or various types of air-to-ground missiles.
The takeoff weight of the F-22 Raptor exceeds 36,000 kilograms, and despite this, it can reach speeds up to Mach 2.25 and climb to an altitude of around 20,000 metres.
It's worth mentioning that this will not be the first mission of the F-22 Raptor in the Middle East, as these aircraft have been sent there before. After the outbreak of the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah and Hamas at the end of 2023, F-16 Fighting Falcons and A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft also arrived from the United States as part of the support.
