According to the US Air Force, F-15E Strike Eagles were part of the large coalition strike package that hit ISIS targets in Syria.
The attack planes, which were already taking part in the offensive against terrorists in Iraq, must have been those of the 48th Fighter Wing, from RAF Lakenheath, currently deployed to Al Udeid, Qatar, the main US operating base in the region.
The opening wave of the air strikes in Syria included a mix of stealth and conventional planes. The F-15E Strike Eagles flew alongside stealth F-22s. Although the F-15s are far from being radar-evading, they can carry more weaponry than the F-22s.
So, were the F-22s really necessary?
Yes and no.
For sure the air strikes took place inside airspace that is still guarded by Syrian air defense radars and surface to air missile batteries. It’s quite difficult to assess the current state of the Syrian air defenses and, considered that it seems these first strikes were not aimed at the Syrian anti-aircraft equipment, it’s safe to say they can still theoretically pose a threat to US and allied airplanes.
Do you remember what happened to the Turkish RF-4E shot down by Syrian anti-aircraft artillery fire a couple of years ago?
Even if any sort of reaction by some of these Syrian air defenses was and still is quite unlikely, stealth planes, supported by EW (Electronic Warfare) platforms, could be used to attack targets close to SAM batteries and other dangerous spots.
Hence, the F-22 Raptor stealth fighters were useful because of their ability to enter, mostly undetected, an anti-access target area, gather details about the enemy systems with their extremely advanced onboard sensors, escort other unstealthy planes and, last but not least, attack their own targets with joint direct attack munitions.
In recent exercises, F-22s flew the dual missions that they will probably fly over Syria as well: High Value Air Asset Escort (HVAAE) and air-to-surface attack, providing the capability to perform an immediate restrike on the same target (or one nearby), if needed.
Moreover, the U.S. has invested a lot in the F-22 Raptor and the U.S. Air Force has worked so much in the last few years to turn the troubled, expensive interceptor into a real multi-role platform that could be eventually used in a real operation.
And it must not be forgotten that recent conflicts have always been a marketing opportunity” to “advertise” and/or test old and new weapons systems; in this case it was also the chance to appease those who criticized the costly stealth plane and the fact it had never been used in combat.
SEE ALSO: The US used F-22 stealth fighter jets in combat for the first time ever last night