U.S. F-22 stealth jets deployed in the Gulf take fuel from a KC-135 Stratotanker.

In order to keep their radar invisibility, U.S. F-22 Raptor multirole jets operating from Al Dhafra, UAE, fly their Combat Air Patrol missions over the Persian Gulf without their underwing tanks.

That’s why they may need several plugs into aerial refuelers booms to extend their endurance.

F-22s also fly HVAAE (High Value Asset Air Escort) escorting UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) that operate along the boundaries of the Iranian airspace: during one such missions a Raptor discouraged two Iranian F-4s that were trying to intercept a Raptor drone.

Image credit: U.S. Air Force

Related articles

• These days, the Baltic region is a buzzing hive of NATO planes
• No, six F-22 stealth fighters are not deploying anywhere near Russia
• [Video] F-15E Strike Eagles refuel from KC-135 tanker over the Persian Gulf
• Photographer captures six F-22 Raptor fighter jets trailing three tankers over the Mediterranean Sea
• U.S. F-22 stealth fighter pilot taunted Iranian F-4 Phantom combat planes over the Persian Gulf
• U.S. KC-135 refuels Moroccan F-16 Block 52 jets during Aeroexpo Marrakech
• Close call: E-3 AWACS almost collides with KC-135 tanker mid-air