U.S. F-22 Stealth Fighter Conducts Bold Intercept of Iranian F-4 Phantoms Over Persian Gulf

The surreal encounter, right out of a high-octane action movie, involved a U.S. F-22 Raptor stealth fighter intercepting and repelling two Iranian F-4 Phantom combat planes over the Persian Gulf. This incident happened in March 2013, underscoring growing tensions and games of cat and mouse in international air space.

Pentagon Press Secretary George Little has earlier revealed that an Iranian F-4 Phantom tried to intercept a routine flight of a US MQ-1 Predator drone on a surveillance mission. The Iranian jets closed to within 16 miles of the UAV before being warned off by two American planes escorting the drone. The incident comes four months after a similar incident in 2012 when two Iranian Su-25 attack planes tried, and failed, to shoot down an American MQ-1 drone.

FILE PHOTO — The F-22 is an air-superiority fighter with improved capability over current Air Force aircraft. From the inception of the battle, the F-22’s primary objective will be to establish air superiority through the conduct of counter air operations. The F-22 also has an inherent air-to-surface capability. A combination of improved sensor capability, improved situational awareness, and improved weapons provides first-kill opportunity against the threat. (U.S. Air Force photo)

In response to such aggressive moves, the Pentagon had decided to provide fighter jet escorts for drones involved in intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions. These fighter escorts included F-18 Hornets from the USS John C. Stennis, as well as F-22 Raptors deployed to Al Dhafra in the UAE.

FILE PHOTO — An F-22 Raptor in full afterburner during flight testing at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. The Raptor is the replacement for the F-15 Eagle. It is the most advanced fighter aircraft in the world, combining a revolutionary leap in technology and capability with reduced support requirements and maintenance costs. The F-22’s integrated avionics gives it first-look, first-shot, first-kill capability that guarantees U.S. air dominance for decades. (U.S. Air Force photo)

Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Welsh just disclosed, for the first time, details of the encounter that took place in 2013. The fighter jets that were accompanying the plane as escort for High-Value Air Asset Escort, or HVAAE, were indeed F-22 stealth fighters. Welsh elaborated on the encounter, “The Raptor pilot flew under the Iranian aircraft to check out their weapons load without them knowing he was there, then pulled up on their left wing and radioed, ‘You really ought to go home.”

That was closer to the scene from the movie “Top Gun” where Maverick and Goose tease the Russian MiG-28s. The fact that the Raptor was in a position to approach the Iranian Phantoms undetected speaks volumes about the stealth capability of the aircraft. It is not known whether the F-22 employed its radar for this intercept or was vectored by an AWACS.

Update 5 AIM-9X Separation First guided launch. China Lake 1.2 M 19.5K 1G Test 722 Flight 132-339 Mission 10030.

The situation did not escalate further as the U.S. pilot managed to shoo away the Iranian jets without being in harm’s way of the drone. The incident was one of several that put to light the capabilities of the F-22 Raptor and the level at which modern air incidents take place.

Accompanying this article is an image of an IRIAF F-4E Phantom landing at Tehran, Mehrabad International Airport in March 2013, shortly around the time of the intercept. These Phantoms regularly patrol the Persian Gulf, normally equipped with AIM-9P and AIM-7E air-to-air missiles testament to the constant vigilance and readiness of both sides in this dangerous region.