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Take Two

F-22 Raptor fighter jet makes its combat debut in Syria

By Take Two Staff
Published Sep 24, 2014
An F-22 Raptor from the Hawaii Air National Guard’s 199th Fighter Squadron returns to a training mission after refueling March 27, 2012, over the Pacific Ocean near the Hawaiian Islands. During the training, U.S. Air Force Academy cadets received a familiarization flight to get a better understanding of the Air Force's global reach capabilities. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Michael Holzworth)
An F-22 Raptor from the Hawaii Air National Guard’s 199th Fighter Squadron returns to a training mission after refueling March 27, 2012, over the Pacific Ocean near the Hawaiian Islands. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Michael Holzworth)
(
TSgt Michael R. Holzworth
)

Take Two translates the day’s headlines for Southern California, making sense of the news and cultural events that affect our lives. Produced by Southern California Public Radio and broadcast from October 2012 – June 2021. Hosted by A Martinez.

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F-22 Raptor fighter jet makes its combat debut in Syria

The F-22 fighter jet took decades and almost $70 billion to develop. While it's been considered combat ready since 2005, the F-22 had never been used in combat until air strikes began in Syria this week. 

The use of the F-22 came as a surprise to avid military aviation watchers and details of the stealth jet's location is kept tightly under wraps. 

Rebecca Grant, president of IRIS Independent Research and a regular contributor to Air Force Magazine, says there are many reasons why the F-22 was well-suited to this mission, "The number one reason being that it's a stealth aircraft, has a better ability to survive against sophisticated air defenses, and Syria does have a more sophisticated air defense."