US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on June 14 that several Lockheed Martin F-22A Raptor fifth-generation air superiority fighters from the USAF’s 94th Fighter Squadron (FS) ‘Hat in the Ring’ have deployed to an undisclosed location in the Middle East amid rising tensions between the US and Russia in Syria and Ukraine.
An unspecified number of F-22As deployed from Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Virginia to CENTCOM’s area of responsibility (AOR) on June 12. According to CENTCOM, this latest deployment comes as part of a multifaceted show of US support and capability to allied and partner nations in the Middle East in the wake of “increasingly unsafe and unprofessional behaviour by Russian aircraft in the region.” While deployed in the CENTCOM AOR, the 94th FS F-22s will integrate with coalition forces on the ground and in the air, while demonstrating the USAF’s ability to “re-posture forces and deliver overwhelming power at a moment’s notice” in the face of such behaviour.
This latest deployment comes just months after two Russian Su-27 Flankers dumped fuel on and flew dangerously close to a USAF MQ-9A Reaper before one of the fighters collided with the drone’s propeller over the Black Sea on March 14, forcing the USAF to intentionally ditch the aircraft in the water. Meanwhile, Moscow honoured the Russian pilots for their actions that caused the incident, which only made relations between the two global superpowers more tense. It also comes as Russia increases its defence relations with Iran, which is supplying Shahed-136 kamikaze drones to the Russian military to aid in its war against Ukraine.
Commenting on Russia’s operational practices in the region, Gen Michael ‘Erik’ Kurilla – commander of US CENTCOM – said: “Russian Forces’ unsafe and unprofessional behaviour is not what we expect from a professional air force. Their regular violation of agreed upon airspace deconfliction measures increases the risk of escalation or miscalculation. Alongside our partners and allies, we are committed to improving the security and stability in the region.”
It remains unclear as to how long the 94th FS F-22As will remain in CENTCOM’s AOR or whether the Raptors will be used in support of combat operations over Syria. “This rapid deployment and integration into coalition operations is a clear demonstration of the commitment shared by partners, allies and the US to long-term peace and stability in the region,” CENTCOM concluded.
