Super Cool Night Photos of the F-22 Raptor stealth jets refueling mid-air enroute to Syria

September 29, 2014 Iraq, Military Aviation, Syria, Troubled Areas, War on ISIS
David Cenciotti

Here are some interesting photographs of the F-22 Raptor of the 1st Fighter Wing, refueling mid-air during strike operations in Syria.

Taken on Sept. 26, the following images were taken from the boomer position aboard a U.S Air Force KC-10 Extender tanker during air-to-air refueling operations of an F-22 Raptor fighter aircraft enroute to Syria.

Raptors refuel

The Raptors, launched from Al Dhafra, in the UAE, where they are deployed along the F-15E Strike Eagles from RAF Lakenheath, were part of a strike package that was engaging ISIL targets in Syria.

Raptors refuel

The F-22 Raptors of the 1st FW that have been stationed in the Persian Gulf from 6 months, will soon be replaced by 6 Raptors belonging to the 95th FS from Tyndall Air Force Base.

Raptors refuel

F-15E aircraft from RAF Lakenheath will be releaved by Strike Eagles from Seymour Johnson Air Force Base.

Raptors refuel

Image: U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Russ Scalf

 

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About David Cenciotti
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David Cenciotti is a journalist based in Rome, Italy. He is the Founder and Editor of “The Aviationist”, one of the world’s most famous and read military aviation blogs. Since 1996, he has written for major worldwide magazines, including Air Forces Monthly, Combat Aircraft, and many others, covering aviation, defense, war, industry, intelligence, crime and cyberwar. He has reported from the U.S., Europe, Australia and Syria, and flown several combat planes with different air forces. He is a former 2nd Lt. of the Italian Air Force, a private pilot and a graduate in Computer Engineering. He has written five books and contributed to many more ones.

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6 Comments

  2. The images look surreal. Everything seems a little fuzzy around this bird. The composite materials are certainly are non absorbent. Ihave heard the plane is too much for the pilots to handle. It is estamatated this aircraft will rule the skies for ten years or more. However the US is instead working toward a joint aircraft that we can sell.

    • If they were non-absorbent, then they wouldn’t be stealth. They are stealth because they partially absorb the radar. SMH.

  4. Why are we using F-22’s for this job? Is Syrian air defense a threat to F-15 and F-16’s?

  5. The United States is still the superpower. Yes, relative to others we are in decline, but our power still far exceeds anyone else. So, the statements “If we flew over it, it was because no one could stop us” and “If we flew over it, we had permission.” mean almost the same thing and in this case are both 100% accurate.

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