Why the US did not send F-22s to participate in the airstrikes on Syria

On April 14, the US, UK and France used warships, bombers and submarines to launch 105 cruise missiles to attack three facilities suspected of producing and storing chemical weapons in Syria. In this attack, the US did not use the F-22 stealth fighter to participate in the battle, although this is considered the most suitable weapon to face Russia's very strong air defense network in Syria, according toMilitary.

"Of the options considered, the B-1B bomber launching the long-range missile from outside Syrian airspace was preferred for a number of reasons, including minimizing risk to the aircraft and pilots, as well as taking advantage of the high accuracy of the AGM-158B JASSM-ER missile," said Lieutenant Colonel Damien Pickart, a US military spokesman.

The Syrian army possesses many modern air defense systems such as the Buk-M2E and Pantsir-S1, while the long-range S-200 systems are likely supported by radars in the Russian S-400 complex in Latakia province. This combination makes the coalition's 4th generation fighters and older bombers easy to detect, making it difficult to carry out effective attacks.

However, even when British Tornado GR4 fighters and French Rafaels carried out the attack, American F-22 fighters did not appear. Instead, Washington only used Marine Corps EA-6B Prowler electronic warfare aircraft.

The US Air Force deployed eight F-15 and F-16 fighter jets to the area between Cyprus and the Syrian coast during the airstrikes. These fighter jets were tasked with air surveillance, guarding against Russian fighters and warships. The F-16 squadron could also play a role in suppressing enemy air defenses.

Lt. Col. Pickart said the F-22 remained a backup option in the attack, but was not used because the US prioritizedJASSM-ER missile performance demonstration.

According to manufacturer Lockheed Martin, the JASSM-ER missile has a range of up to 1,000 km, is stealthy against radar and is designed "to destroy enemy air defense systems and high-value, fixed and mobile, closely protected targets, while helping to protect aircraft against hostile air defense systems".

However, JASSM has only been integrated into a few aircraft in the US military such as the B-1, B-2, B-52, F-16 and F-15E. The F-22 stealth fighter is famous for its difficulty in being compatible with new weapons due to its difficult-to-upgrade fire control software, so it has not been equipped with this type of missile.

"The F-22 squadron is always ready, but not participating in combat as expected. It is more suitable for the air defense role, protecting coalition and allied forces," Mr. Pickart said.

This is not the first time the F-22 has been sidelined from military operations by the US. Last June, the US deployed F-15Es to shoot down an Iranian Shaheed drone as it approached US-backed forces. During the same period, an F/A-18E Super Hornet also shot down a Syrian Su-22 attack aircraft south of Taqbah.

"We deploy F-22s to areas where the threat is greatest, but they can't be there 24/7," said Brigadier General Charles Corcoran, commander of the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing, which operates the F-22 in the Middle East.

Pentagon officials say the F-22s will not necessarily be used in direct combat. They will act as “eyes and ears” on the battlefield, relaying information to friendly forces without fear of being detected by the enemy from a distance.

During the US Tomahawk missile strike on Syria in April 2017, many F-22 fighters appeared near Syrian airspace. They constantly switched positions, ensuring that there were always surveillance aircraft in the air. For these types of missions, the F-22 is highly valued because it is the only fighter that can survive in an anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) environment.