Maintainers from the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing catch F-22 Raptors at a forward deployed location in Southwest Asia, Sept. 12, 2018. The maintainers left Al Dhafra Air Base on the KC-10 Extender that refueled the F-22s throughout the day. This highlighted the 380th’s ability to execute combat operations from various locations within the Area of Responsibility. U.S. Air Forces Central Command Airmen operate any time, any place and under any conditions in order to maintain air superiority and protect ground forces. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Ross A. Whitley)
An F-22 Raptor pilot from the 94th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, Al Dhafra Air Base, flies behind a 908th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron KC-10 Extender over Southwest Asia, Sept. 12, 2018. The F-22 possesses a sophisticated sensor suite allowing the pilot to track, identify, shoot and kill air-to-air threats before being detected. The U.S. is postured to defend U.S. forces in the region from any threat. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Ross A. Whitley)
Lining up for refueling, an F-22 Raptor from the 94th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, Al Dhafra Air Base, flies behind a 908th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron KC-10 Extender over Southwest Asia, Sept. 12, 2018. The F-22 possesses a sophisticated sensor suite allowing the pilot to track, identify, shoot and kill air-to-air threats before being detected. U.S. Air Forces Central Command Airmen, Joint personnel, and Coalition partners stand ready to defend our forces from any threat. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Ross A. Whitley)
An F-22 Raptor from the 94th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, Al Dhafra Air Base, flies behind a 908th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron KC-10 Extender over Southwest Asia, Sept. 12, 2018. The F-22 performs both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions and projects air dominance, rapidly and at great distances in order to defeat threats to the U.S. and our interests. The U.S. is postured to defend U.S. forces in the region from any threat. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Ross A. Whitley)
Two F-22 Raptors from the 94th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, Al Dhafra Air Base, fly in formation after refueling from a 908th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron KC-10 Extender over Southwest Asia, Sept. 12, 2018. The F-22s completed combat operations and forward deployed to an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia, highlighting their combat agility. The U.S. is postured to defend U.S. forces in the region from any threat. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Ross A. Whitley)
Crew chiefs prepare a KC-10 Extender from the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing at Al Dhafra Air Base, to carry equipment and F-22 maintainers to a forward deployed location in Southwest Asia, Sept. 12, 2018. The maneuver highlighted the 94th Expeditionary Squadron’s ability to execute combat operations from various locations within the CENTCOM Area of Responsibility. Crew chiefs from the 380th forward deployed on a KC-10 in order to execute continued combat operations. The KC-10 can transport up to 75 people, nearly 170,000 pounds (76,560 kilograms) of cargo, and more than 356,000 pounds (160,200 kilograms) of fuel. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Ross A. Whitley)