XPost: sci.military.naval, soc.history.war.misc

Semi-interesting story from a while back,,,

from fhttps://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/iran-freaked-out-f-22-raptor-flew-under-irans-fighter-jet-undetected-208440

August 22, 2024 Topic: Security Region: Middle East Blog Brand: The
Buzz Tags: IranMiddle EastF-22 RaptorF-4 PhantomStealthMilitaryDefense
Iran Freaked Out: F-22 Raptor Flew Under Iran's Fighter Jet 'Undetected'
The F-4s were surprised by an F-22 Raptor stealth fighter, which had
been silently escorting the drone. The Raptor pilot, undetected by the Iranians, calmly revealed his presence, advising the F-4s to retreat,
which they did.

by Harrison Kass Follow Harrison Kass on TwitterL

Summary and Key Points: In November 2012, two Iranian Su-25s attempted
to shoot down a U.S. MQ-1 Predator drone in international airspace, but
failed due to their aircraft's limitations.

F-22 Raptor

-A year later, unaware of new U.S. escort policies, Iran deployed F-4
Phantoms to engage another MQ-1.

-However, the F-4s were surprised by an F-22 Raptor stealth fighter,
which had been silently escorting the drone. The Raptor pilot,
undetected by the Iranians, calmly revealed his presence, advising the
F-4s to retreat, which they did.

-The incident highlights ongoing tensions between the U.S. and Iran, particularly amid nuclear negotiations.

How a Stealthy F-22 Raptor Outmaneuvered Iranian F-4s
In November 2012, two Iranian Air Force Sukhoi Su-25s tried to down a
U.S. Air Force MQ-1 Predator drone. At the time, the MQ-1 was flying in international air space, 16 miles from the Iranian border; the drone
flight was legal, but understandably instigatory. Iran scrambled the two Su-25s, which quickly closed on the drone. But the Su-25 was designed
for close air support, not air superiority, and it struggled impotently
with its cannons to shoot down the MQ-1.

The American drone escaped the interaction unscathed, having filmed the
entire sequence with on-board cameras. In response to the incident, the
U.S. modified its procedures to better protect its vulnerable drone
fleet. It began providing drones with a fighter escort.

F-4 Phantom

One year later, in 2013, the Iranians – apparently unaware of this new
U.S. drone-escort policy – engaged another MQ-1. This time, the Iranians
sent a jet with some air-to-air game, the F-4 Phantom – an aircraft the
U.S. exported to Iran in the 1970s, back when the two countries were
allies. Unlike the Su-25, the F-4 was entirely capable of bringing down
the MQ-1. But when the Iranian F-4s moved to engage the MQ-1, they
discovered they were not alone.

Escorting the MQ-1, lurking silently, was a Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor
– a fifth-generation stealth fighter. As the Iranian pilots learned that
day, the F-22 “is equipped with stealth technology that enables it to
operate virtually undetected by radar.”

Iran, F-4 and Those Stealth F-22 Raptors
Indeed, the Iranians were oblivious to its presence as the F-22 stalked
them from below.

This aircraft is packed with enviable, cutting-edge technology. “The
F-22 Raptor is a technological marvel,” I noted previously.

“The world’s first operational fifth-generation fighter, the F-22 was designed with a bevy of novel features – stealth technology,
supercruise, supermaneuverability, and sensor fusion – all combined to
create the preeminent air superiority fighter.”

F-22

The Iranians flying in Vietnam War-era F-4 Phantoms were ill-equipped to
match an F-22. Granted, the F-4 was a capable airframe – the most
produced American supersonic military aircraft ever – but it first flew
in 1958. The F-22, on the other hand, was an up-to-date, 21st century
marvel.

“The F-22’s software is advanced and impressive. Using sensor fusion,
data from multiple onboard sensor systems are synthesized to create a
more comprehensive tactical picture,” I explained a few years back.

Besides, the F-4 was not built for dogfighting. “The Phantom was not particularly maneuverable,” I explained in a previous article on the
F-4. “Enemy MiGs could typically outturn the F-4, which wasn’t designed
for dogfighting and suffered from adverse yaw in tight turns. Instead,
the F-4 was intended to fire radar-guided missiles from beyond visual
range, not engage in air combat maneuvering.”

Well, the F-22 was comfortably within visual range: It was directly
below the Iranians.

F-22

The F-22’s pilot, operating undetected, had sidled right in. “He flew
under their aircraft to check out their weapons load without them
knowing that he was there,” then-Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark
Welsh said. Having determined the F-4’s payloads, the Raptor pilot
finally alerted the Iranians to his presence.

He “pulled up on their left-wing and then called them and said ‘you
really ought to go home,’” Welsh said. The F-4s complied and bugged out.

The incident is indicative of the friction that has underscored the U.S.-Iranian relationship since the late 1970s. Currently, the two sides
are working toward a deal on Iran’s nuclear program, which is reportedly nearing break-out capacity and has made Iran an international pariah.
The world is watching closely as the negotiations unfold. In the
meantime, hopefully the two rival nations can avoid any further
dogfighting incidents.

Author Biography: Harrison Kass
Harrison Kass is a senior defense editor with over 1,000 published
articles. An attorney, pilot, guitarist, and minor pro hockey player, he
joined the US Air Force as a Pilot Trainee but was medically discharged. Harrison has degrees from Lake Forest College, the University of Oregon
School of Law, and New York University’s Graduate School of Arts &
Sciences. He lives in Oregon and regularly listens to Dokken. Email the
Author: Editor@nationalinterest.org.

Image Credit: Shutterstock and Creative Commons.

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