USAF F-22A fighters have deployed to Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, for the first time. The Raptors returned to the Central Command area of responsibility on June 27, adding to a buildup of US forces in the Gulf amid growing tensions with Iran. According to a USAF statement, the 12 Raptors have been deployed "in order to defend American forces and interests". The F-22s transited through Moron air base in Spain before touching down in Qatar. Previous Raptor deployments were carried out at Al Dhafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates. The aircraft involved are a mix of jets from the 27th Fighter Squadron (FS), 94th FS and 95th FS, comprising: 04- 4067 'FF', 04-4082 'FF/149 FS', 05-4089 TY', 05-4100 TY', 08-4157 'FF', 08-4163 'FF', 08-4165 'FF', 08-4167 'FF', 09-4173 'FF', 09-4174 'FF', 09-4189 'FF' and 10-4192 'FF/192 FW'. Above: A pair of F-22As arrives at Al Udeid AB on June 27. Unusually, the initial official photos from the deployment have the aircraft's identities removed.
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