【Military Subplane】Author: Sky Wolf
On August 5, local time, according to the Islamic Republic of Iran News Agency, Iran Foreign Ministry spokesman Kanaani said on the same day that the Iran government strongly condemned Israel's assassination of Hamas leader Haniyeh, saying that this act is a serious violation of international law, and the world must strongly condemn this senseless crime. At the same time, Iran has the right to defend national security, sovereignty and territorial integrity, and no one has the right to question Iran's legitimate right to punish and deter aggressors, and Iran will take "decisive and firm" actions to punish aggressors in order to safeguard Iran's national security and dignity.
▲Amid rising regional tensions, an Israel frigate patrols the coast of the northern port city of Haifa
In the face of Iran's vowed retaliation for Israel's assassination, massive missile and drone attacks could cause massive casualties and could occur within hours. According to The Israel Times, Israel is considering a preemptive strike against Iran. The report said that if Israel "finds conclusive evidence that Iran is preparing to attack, Israel will consider launching a preemptive strike to deter Iran." This was said by Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the media after he called a meeting of Israel's security chiefs on Sunday evening local time.
As we all know, Iran has widely deployed its missile and drone launch capabilities, and because of the long-term struggle in the Middle East, Iran's missiles and drones are usually deployed in fortified facilities or mobile launches on trucks, so it is very doubtful how effective Israel will be in carrying out a quick preemptive strike, and it may be more of a harsh word to deter Iran.
▲ "Abraham · Lincoln" aircraft carrier
In response to a possible Iran attack on Israel, United States has also rapidly increased its military presence in the Middle East. United States Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin ordered the USS Abraham · Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group to be relocated from the Pacific Ocean to the Middle East to replace the USS Theodore · Roosevelt aircraft carrier strike group currently deployed in the region. At the same time, additional Ticonderoga-class cruisers and Arleigh Burke-class destroyers with ballistic missile defense capabilities were ordered to be deployed to the United States European Command and United States Central Command areas, and the U.S. military is also considering deploying additional land-based ballistic missile defense systems to protect U.S. forces and bases in Iraq and Syria.
It is worth mentioning that the United States Secretary of State also ordered the dispatch of a fighter squadron consisting of F-22 "Raptors" to the Middle East to strengthen the US military's defensive air support capabilities. Obviously, if Iran does launch a massive strike, then it will most likely be the first battle for the F-22 other than "shooting down the balloon" in United States airspace.
▲The U.S. F-22 deployed to the Middle East
As one of the most advanced fifth-generation aircraft in the world, the F-22 fighter has excellent stealth capabilities and powerful air combat capabilities. So, what are the tasks that are most likely to be performed?
The first is the Combat Air Patrol (CAP) mission, where the F-22's stealth capabilities and advanced air combat sensors allow it to detect and lock on enemy air targets in advance without being detected by enemy radar, so the F-22 fighter can conduct air patrols in a relatively forward position, search for and identify any potential enemy aircraft, such as drones widely used by Iran in previous strikes, and intercept and destroy them if necessary.
The second is the suppression of enemy air defense systems (SEAD) mission, in which the F-22 uses its advanced electronic warfare systems to jam, deceive and suppress the detection and strike capabilities of enemy air defense systems, while being equipped with ground attack weapons such as the AGM-88 "Hamm" anti-radiation missile, which is used to destroy enemy radars and anti-aircraft missile launchers. By suppressing enemy air defense systems, the F-22 can significantly reduce the risk of attack on friendly fighters when entering enemy airspace, ensuring the success of air strike missions. Considering that Israel's so-called "preemptive strike" is more of a gimmick, the likelihood that the F-22 will perform such a mission is not high.
▲The F-22 has been in service for nearly 19 years
Third, the F-22 is an aerial surveillance and reconnaissance mission that can collect intelligence in the airspace along Iran's borders, identify and track enemy movements, and provide real-time battlefield situational awareness, including enemy troop deployment, movement, and defensive positions. It can also use its sensors and communications systems to carry out high-altitude reconnaissance missions and provide critical intelligence support in the event that Iran launches ballistic missiles against Israel.
At present, Iran's retaliatory actions may involve a variety of strike means and diversified targets, aimed at causing a significant military, economic and psychological impact on Israel, and the US F-22 due to its high cost and highly sensitive technology, the number of actual combat deployments is quite limited.