F-22 makes its debut against ISIS

The Air Force’s F-22 “Raptor” fighter jets made their combat debut on Monday in striking terrorist targets in Syria. 

The strikes were launched against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and al Qaeda. 

{mosads}The F-22s took part in the second of three waves of bombings by U.S. and allied aircraft, along with F-15s, F-16s and the B-1 bombers and drones. 

They hit targets in northern Syria, including ISIS headquarters, training camps, barracks and combat vehicles. 

At a Pentagon briefing Tuesday, a Pentagon official showed off pictures displaying the precision of the strikes, including by F-22s, which can fly undetected by radar at high altitudes.  

Army Lt. Gen. Bill Mayville, director of operations for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, showed reporters a picture of an ISIS command and control building in Raqaa, Syria.

“This strike was the first time the F-22 was used in a combat role. The flight of the F-22s delivered GPS-guided munitions — precision munitions targeting only the right side of the building,” Mayville said. 

Production of the F-22, which has sophisticated sensors that allows it to track, identify and carry out strikes without being detected, has been rife with controversy.

In 2012, two whistleblowers revealed a problem with the jet’s oxygen system that led to suffocation-like symptoms for pilots — possibly leading to the death of one pilot in 2010. The fleet was grounded in 2012 until the problem was identified and fixed.

Defense officials labeled the strikes a success.

“It was through the careful planning and coordination of U.S. Central Command’s combined arms operations — combined air operations center located in the region that these strikes were successful with minimal collateral damage,” Mayville said.