From 8 till 12 May 2023, as part of the USAF Agile Combat Employment (ACE) concept, Lockheed Martin F-22A Raptors operated from Ämari Air Base (Estonia).

 

While being forward based in Estonia, USAF's 94th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron Hat in the Ring flew Basic Fighter Manoeuvres (BFM) alongside Royal Air Force's Typhoon FGR4 fighter jets from IX (B) Sq. While the UK Typhoons, normally based at RAF Lossiemouth, are currently deployed on "Operation Azotize" as part of NATO’s Baltic Air Policing Mission, the USAF F-22A stealthy Fifth-Generation fighters are tasked with supporting NATO Allied Air Command’s Air Shielding mission along the complete Eastern flank.

 

In early April, Joint Base Langley-Eustis' 94th Fighter Squadron, part of the 1st Fighter Wing, deployed a dozen F-22A Raptors to Poland’s Powidz Air Base. The FF coded Raptors are in support of the NATO’s mission to bolster its Integrated Air and Missile Defence (IAMD) and Counter-Integrated Air Defence System (C-IADS) capabilities along the Alliance’s 1,500-mile Eastern flank.

 

The following FF coded F-22As are deployed to Europe: 05-4099, 05-4107, 08-4158, 09-4171, 09-4177, 09-4179, 09-4183, 09-4187, 09-4191, 10-4194 (as 94FS flagship) + 2.