USAF's Raptors paved the way for Spirits
On 22 June 2025, during a 37-hour nonstop flight from Whiteman AFB (MO), at least seven Air Force Global Strike Command B-2A Spirit strategic bombers struck three Iranian nuclear facilities early in the morning.
With "Operation Midnight Hammer", the US used the heaviest conventional weapon, a GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP), or "Bunkerbuster", in a real situation for the first time in history.
Although it was known that US assets would have Air Superiority over Iran, 1st Fighter Wing Langley AFB based Lockheed Martin F-22A Raptors were carefully chosen to be the first weapon of choice paving the way for the B-2 Spirits. The F-22's AN/APG-77 (AN/APG-77(V)1) AESA radar is similarly highly advanced to the F-35A's AN/APG-81, but the sensors are more focused on air-to-air combat.
Dubbed "Operation Midnight Hammer," US Central Command (USCENTCOM) deployed multiple combined assets to inflict significant damage at the sites of Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan in Iran. After proceeding quietly and with minimal communication for 18 hours from the US to the target area, the first of seven B-2A Spirit stealth bombers dropped two 30.000 pound GBU-57 MOP "Bunker buster" bombs at the Fordo site.
The initial mission package also included several B-2A decoy aircraft that flew west over the Pacific Ocean as a deception effort. Following the initial strike on Fordo, the remaining Spirits went on to deploy their ordnance, eventually totaling 14 MOPs hitting the targeted areas. In addition to the MOPs, a US submarine operating in CENTCOM's area of responsibility launched more than two dozen Tomahawk land attack cruise missiles at key infrastructure targets at the Isfahan site, bringing the overall total of precision-guided weapons employed during the operation to approximately 75.
Besides Aviano (Italy) based 31st Fighter Wing AV coded F-16Cs and RAF Lakenheath (UK) based 48th Fighter Wing LN (WA) coded F-35As the following 1st Fighter Wing F-22As were seen at Lakenheath before and after the strikes:
As of 29 June, the following FF coded F-22As are still residing at Lakenheath: 05-4097, 08-4154, 08-4164, 08-4168, 08-4169, 09-4173, 09-4177, 09-4181, 09-4184, 09-4187, 09-4191 and 10-4194 (as 94FS).
Credit photos: USAF