The first of 12 F-22s which made a stopover in the UK on Wednesday are currently en route to the U.S. CENTCOM region.
Split into two sections, each made of four jets, the first eight F-22s of the U.S. Air Force, supported by KC-135 and KC-46 tankers, have departed from RAF Lakenheath, UK. Their destination is, according to Open Source reports, Muwaffaq Salti AB, in Jordan.
Our friend and contributor Glenn Lockett, was able to snap some interesting images of the 5th generation aircraft and their aerial refuelers, as they headed towards the Middle East, to join the rest of the U.S. assets deployed to the U.S: Central Command Area of Operations “to enhance the U.S.defensive posture in the region,” as U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced.
The aircraft took off again towards their final destination in the morning of Jun. 20, 2025. The first flight of four F-22s that departed was TABOR 51, supported by KC-46 GOLD 03. The first section was followed an hour later by the F-22s' TABOR 71 flight and KC-135 GOLD 23.
Poster Comment:
These are our best. The F-35 is junk. They have been shot down by Iran.