Syrian air defence and the unlikely rise of the F‑22 raptor
Although the F-22 Raptor was developed and tested in the 20th century, it remains one of the most advanced combat aircraft in the world. The program to build this aircraft was initially in jeopardy. However, the decision to produce the Raptor was made partly due to Syria's expansion of its air defence system, recalls the U.S. Secretary of the Air Force.
Syria played a significant role in the introduction and production of the F-22 Raptor aircraft, stated U.S. Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall. During a discussion organized by the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, the official, who has held various defence-related positions since the 1980s and was involved in creating the requirements for the Raptor, revealed behind-the-scenes details about the aircraft's service acceptance.
This occurred at a time when a full-scale conflict with a technologically advanced adversary, for which the F-22 was designed, seemed increasingly unlikely. The aircraft was developed as a result of the Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF) program, defeating the competing YF-23 design from Northrop for the contract.
Cuts in defence spending in the U.S. after the Soviet Union's collapse and the dissolution of the military bloc established by Moscow also raised doubts about the future of the Raptor.
The F-22 Raptor was developed thanks to Syrian air defence
According to Frank Kendall, the factor that determined the start of serial production of this aircraft turned out to be Syria, which at the time had one of the most advanced anti-aircraft systems in the world.
Its components, apart from numerous individual MANPADS anti-aircraft systems like the Strela launchers, included short, medium, and long-range systems of Soviet production.
The strength of the Syrian defence, as estimated by the Pentagon, was significant enough that to overcome it, the decision was made to deploy a very expensive aircraft, with production eventually limited to just 187 units.
More than 20 years later, in 2014, the F-22 Raptor made its combat debut in Syria. These aircraft were then used by the United States for airstrikes against Daesh positions.
