Breaking News: US Deploys F-22 Fighters to Britain as It Considers Military Option Against Iran.

According to information published by Reuters on June 18, 2025, the United States has deployed several stealth fighter jets, including the F-22 Raptor, to RAF Lakenheath in the United Kingdom amid rising tensions in the Middle East. The aircraft, from the 1st Fighter Wing based at Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Virginia, were observed en route to Europe, a common staging point for deployments to the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) area of responsibility.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link

With stealth capabilities, supercruise, and advanced maneuverability, it can engage aerial and ground targets without detection (Picture source: US DoD)

This major redeployment is part of a strategy to pre-position high-value military assets as President Donald Trump considers potential U.S. military involvement alongside Israel, which has conducted several days of airstrikes targeting strategic Iranian sites, including nuclear-related facilities. Although the United States has so far refrained from direct offensive action, the presence of F-22s signals an enhanced deterrent posture and increased operational readiness in case of further escalation.

The F-22 Raptor, a fifth-generation air superiority fighter, is a key component of U.S. air power. With stealth capabilities, supercruise, and advanced maneuverability, it can engage aerial and ground targets without detection. Its integrated AESA radar and sensor suite enable long-range threat detection and engagement. In air-to-air missions, it carries six AIM-120 AMRAAMs and two AIM-9 Sidewinders; in air-to-ground roles, it can deploy two GBU-32 JDAMs while retaining its air combat capability.

With advanced aerodynamics, thrust vectoring, and a high thrust-to-weight ratio, the F-22 is capable of outmaneuvering any adversary in close combat. Designed to operate above 50,000 feet, it is equipped with a 20mm M61A2 cannon and can cruise at speeds above Mach 1.5 without afterburner, significantly extending its range. Its deployment to Lakenheath represents a rapid intervention capability toward the Middle East theater.

Possible U.S. strike targets include Iran’s underground nuclear facilities, particularly the Fordow site, which is buried beneath a mountain and considered impervious to all but U.S. military capabilities. Such an operation would likely involve B-2 Spirit stealth bombers equipped with 30,000-pound GBU-57 bunker-busting bombs.

On the ground, Iran has continued launching large-scale missile and drone attacks. Since the start of Israel’s Operation Rising Lion, Iranian forces have fired approximately 400 ballistic missiles and 1,000 UAVs toward Israel, resulting in at least 23 civilian deaths and hundreds of injuries. Israeli air defenses, supported by U.S. THAAD and Aegis systems, have intercepted a significant portion of the attacks, with U.S. fighter jets in the region also contributing to the interception of Iranian drones.

As the foreign ministers of the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and the European Union prepare to meet Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on June 20 in Geneva, the U.S. maintains a robust military stance, ready to act if President Trump gives the order. Trump has stated his final decision could come “at the last second,” while emphasizing that only the United States possesses the necessary capabilities to effectively strike Iran’s fortified nuclear infrastructure.