Aircraft
F-22 Performs over Syria/Iraq Despite Comms Issues
The stealthy air defense fighter has proved adaptable to coalition multirole combat
The US Air Force is advancing the date for fitting Link 16 transmit capability to the F-22 stealth fighter. (Chris Pocock)
The US Air Force is advancing the date for fitting Link 16 transmit capability to the F-22 stealth fighter. (Chris Pocock)

As Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR) continues over Iraq and Syria, the U.S. Air Force has maintained the involvement of top-of-the-line Lockheed Martin (LM) F-22 Raptor stealth fighters. On six-month rotations to Al Dhafra airbase in the United Arab Emirtates, the Raptors have flown approximately 300 sorties in OIR, dropping weapons and providing “mission assurance” to other elements of the strike package, according to U.S. Air Force officials. This may be a reference to the F-22’s low-visibility monitoring of Russian air activity over Syria, as well as potential activations of Syria’s own air defense systems.