In a significant move signaling deepening U.S. involvement, eight F-22 Raptor stealth fighters have been deployed from RAF Lakenheath in the UK to a U.S. airbase in Jordan, accompanied by KC-135 and KC-46 aerial refueling tankers.
These fifth-generation F-22 jets are among the most advanced fighters in the world, capable of achieving total air superiority through stealth, speed, and precision targeting—making them ideal for missions deep into Iranian airspace, including eliminating air defense systems, missile launchers, and hardened facilities.
The message is clear: the U.S. is ready to enforce dominance over Iranian skies, and Tehran’s current air defense capabilities, largely based on older systems and Russian S-300 variants, are unlikely to match the stealth and electronic warfare capabilities of the F-22s.
This deployment follows multiple waves of Israeli airstrikes on Iranian territory and may be the first concrete step toward direct U.S. military intervention if Iran crosses further red lines.