🇺🇸 Langley F-22 Squadron Return Home After Long Operation Epic Fury Deployment - RAF Fairford UK

Deployed to Israel since February 2026, F-22 Raptors from the 1st Fighter Wing at Langley AFB transited towards home with an unusual stopover at RAF Fairford over the weekend. Twelve 1st FW Raptors in total are thought to be part of the package heading home. Video also includes footage of the Lockheed U-2S and a pair of B-1B Lancer bombers taking off on the same day, a real action packed day at RAF Fairford. Some have asked why the Raptors would head home at this time, though it should be considered that any aircraft and any squadron has a finite amount of time they can reasonably be forward deployed while maintaining a high level of operational capability. The resumption of hostile action against Iran will also take a very different approach compared to the opening days of Operation Epic Fury – much of the air defence threat has already been neutralised, without enough time to fully regenerate, and high end ‘exquisite’ capabilities like the incredibly stealthy F-22 might be lower on the list of required assets. Ten jets made it to RAF Fairford on Jul. 10, 2026, with nine then departing on July 13th. The two remaining aircraft that didn’t make it to Fairford are rumored to have stopped along the way – presumably for technical reasons – at Naval Air Station Sigonella, Italy, though this is unconfirmed.