by Maya Carlin, Warrior Contributor, Weapons
American F-22 Raptors are headed to the Middle East in response to recent Russian provocations in the region. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced this week that the stealth jets will deploy from Langley Air Force Base in Virginia to join other American and allied airframes in the region. U.S. officials called the move a direct response to “increasingly unsafe and unprofessional behavior by Russian aircraft” in the region.
In a press release, CENTCOM Commander Gen. Erik Kurilla said that Moscow’s “regular violation of agreed-upon airspace deconfliction measures increases the risk of escalation or miscalculation.”
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Over the last few months, Russia has escalated its aerial activity over Syria. Some experts believe the increased activity is related to Iranian-Russian collaboration concerning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Tehran has become the leading unmanned aerial vehicle manufacturer for Moscow, providing the lethal drones Russian forces use to attack Kyiv and surrounding areas.
In March, armed Russian fighter jets flew over an American military garrison in Syria nearly every day, according to U.S. officials. These provocations violated a four-year-old agreement between Washington and Moscow and obviously ramped up tensions between the two countries.
Earlier in March, two Russian Su-27 fighters aggressively circled an American MQ-9 Reaper drone. A video released by the U.S. Department of Defense shows a collision that resulted in the downing of the drone over the Black Sea. A few weeks later, a Russian Su-35 fighter carried out an “unsafe and unprofessional intercept” with an American F-16 Fighting Falcon in Syria’s airspace.
Iran’s Involvement
The head of U.S. Air Forces Central, Lt. Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, said the recent surge in Russian activity over Syria’s airspace could be related to Iran. Grynkewich believes the sides’ increased coordination regarding Ukraine might be spilling over into other regions.
According to Grynkewich, both Tehran and Moscow want the U.S. out of Syria and are actively colluding with the Syrian regime to push American forces out of the country as soon as possible. Additionally, Russian and American relations have obviously soured following the commencement of the Ukraine invasion in February 2022.
F-22 Raptors to Calm the Situation
“The Raptors are demonstrating the U.S.’ ability to re-posture forces and deliver overwhelming power at a moment’s notice,” the press release clarified. “While in the CENTCOM area, the 94th Fighter Squadron will integrate with coalition forces on the ground and in the air.”
As the world’s first fifth-generation fighter jets, the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptors have a powerful reputation in the aviation world. The platform’s unparalleled stealth capabilities topped with speed, supercruise and supermaneuverability earn the Raptor its robust reputation. Deploying the F-22s to CENTCOM is a warning to Moscow to quit its antics over Syria and the Black Sea.
Maya Carlin, a Senior Editor for 19FortyFive, is an analyst with the Center for Security Policy and a former Anna Sobol Levy Fellow at IDC Herzliya in Israel. She has by-lines in many publications, including The National Interest, Jerusalem Post, and Times of Israel. You can follow her on Twitter: @MayaCarlin.
