Could Israel Ever Acquire F-22 Raptors from the United States?: Israel just used its vaunted F-35I Adir advanced fighters in an effective air attack against Iranian military sites in Iran.
The stealthiness came in handy as the F-35Is destroyed Iranian air defense sites while flying unopposed. There were no losses in the ground strike mission against Iran, and it should be considered a success, although it is not likely to decisively end Tehran’s ballistic missile program or nuclear weapons capabilities.
One thing we can ponder is whether the Israelis could ever acquire F-22 Raptors to supplement future attacks. And, at least for now, it seems Israel will never fly the F-22.
Losing an F-22 Would Be Unthinkable
This would be a dream come true for the Israelis. The problem is that the F-22 is banned from exporting to other countries, especially in the Middle East where militaries could acquire F-22 stealth technologies.
Imagine if the Iranians were able to shoot down an F-22. They could possibly learn secrets from the wreckage and that would put the entire F-22 program in jeopardy.
Getting the F-22 Won’t Be Easy
Moreover, the production lines for the F-22 are closed and there would be no possibility that Israel could acquire the stealth warbird easily.
But it is interesting to speculate about the Israelis getting more stealth aircraft to add to its existing fleet of F-15Is and F-16s, plus the F-35Is.
President Donald Trump’s Defense Secretary Examined the Option
The existing export ban didn’t stop the Trump administration from examining some ways that the United States could send F-22s to Israel.
In October of 2020, then Secretary of Defense Mark Esper even told Israel that the United States approved the sale of F-22s. This was news to the Israelis, and they perked up in excitement, but it was not to be.
Other U.S. presidents have looked at the possibility of F-22 exports, but the Raptors have never been fully approved for international sales. The threat of them getting into Russian, Iranian, or Chinese hands was not worth the risk.
The Israeli Dream Is Having Long-Range Bombers
What Israel really needs aside from stealth fighters are long-range bombers like the B-1B Lance or B-2 Spirit.
The ground strikes from fighters are limited. Israel, in order to really threaten underground nuclear facilities in Iran, would have to use large numbers of bunker-busting bombs. Even to strike subterranean tunnels in Lebanon and Gaza takes many direct hits from anti-bunker munitions. Fighters can only carry so many bunker busters.
More Up-to-Date Tankers Would Be Nice Too
Israel could also use more long-range tankers for aerial refueling. They were able to refuel fighters from the last operation, but additional tankers would be welcome.
Focus on the F-35I Adir
Getting the F-22 is simply a bridge too far. Israel should focus more on acquiring F-35Is. That is the future of stealth aviation for the Jewish state. Then try to buy some long-range bombers. Unless Israel acquires bigger airplanes that can deploy bunker-busting precision-guided weapons, it will be difficult to eliminate all of the military and nuclear sites.
Bloody Nose Strikes Will Not Be Decisive Against Iran
Currently, the Israelis can only conduct “bloody nose” strikes against Iran. While F-22s would be nice, the Israeli Air Force has more wants and needs. Continued bloody nose attacks against Iran will just not cut it. To be sure, eliminating Iranian air defenses, especially radar installations and S-300 and S-400 surface-to-air missiles is good news, and follow-on attacks are enabled, but that leaves the extensive underground facilities and those require long-range bombers as described above.
Plus, there is a U.S. law forbidding the export of the F-22, and the production line has ceased operation. So, it is time to focus on the F-35I, more tankers, and somehow acquiring long-range bombers.
The F-22 is just not possible for Israel.
About the Author: Dr. Brent M. Eastwood
Brent M. Eastwood, PhD is the author of Don’t Turn Your Back On the World: a Conservative Foreign Policy and Humans, Machines, and Data: Future Trends in Warfare plus two other books. Brent was the founder and CEO of a tech firm that predicted world events using artificial intelligence. He served as a legislative fellow for U.S. Senator Tim Scott and advised the senator on defense and foreign policy issues. He has taught at American University, George Washington University, and George Mason University. Brent is a former U.S. Army Infantry officer. He can be followed on X @BMEastwood.
megiddo
October 28, 2024 at 10:19 pm
Raptor is old, nearly or almost as old as hunter biden.
Raptor has a digital system that’s as old as windows 98 or maybe old like windows 95.
USAF pilots like to play up tales of How a raptor killed 5, 10, 15 or 20 fighters.
But in a mock combat with foreign fighters, a rafale jet had a f-22 easy dead in the crosshairs of its gun camera.
Shows the raptor is old. Like hunter son of joe.
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