The United States Air Force (USAF) has invested heavily in developing advanced, stealth-focused fighter aircraft to maintain air superiority, with the F-22 Raptor emerging as a keystone of American air dominance.

Since its maiden flight in 1997, the F-22 has demonstrated its powerful capabilities across air-to-air and air-to-ground missions, establishing the aircraft as a primary force in controlling the skies in combat scenarios. As of August 2022, the USAF has 183 F-22 Raptors in service, underscoring its commitment to air dominance and advanced warfare capabilities.

However, in 2012, an article in Air Combat magazine presented a surprising revelation that highlighted the limitations of this advanced jet in specific combat settings. During the Red Flag air exercise in Alaska, the F-22 Raptor was bested in close-range, “Within Visual Range” (WVR) combat against the German Air Force’s Eurofighter Typhoon, a highly agile aircraft introduced three years before the Raptor.

F-22 Raptor Development and Mission Capabilities

• Historical Background: The F-22 program began in the late 1980s as part of the USAF’s Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF) project, aimed at creating an air-dominance aircraft superior to any other on the battlefield. The USAF’s vision was to ensure the United States maintained technological superiority in aerial combat through innovations in stealth, sensor fusion, and weapons systems. Following substantial investment, the Raptor took to the skies in 1997, symbolizing cutting-edge advancements in fifth-generation fighter technology.
• Technical Capabilities: Equipped with radar-absorbing materials, the Raptor is nearly invisible to enemy radar, a key component of its stealth capabilities. Its powerful AN/APG-77 radar system and sophisticated sensor fusion allow the pilot to track and target enemy aircraft long before being detected, making it especially effective in Beyond Visual Range (BVR) engagements. The F-22 is also powered by twin Pratt & Whitney F119 engines, providing supercruise capability, allowing it to sustain supersonic speeds without using afterburners—a critical advantage in combat.

Purpose and Structure of the Red Flag Exercise

• Overview of Red Flag: The Red Flag exercise, established in 1975, is an annual USAF event designed to simulate intense air combat situations. It allows pilots from different countries to experience real-world battle conditions, where they engage in mock battles against both American and allied forces. The exercise typically lasts two weeks and includes complex missions to test pilots’ skills, teamwork, and readiness.
• German Participation and Eurofighter Typhoon Role: In 2012, Germany sent eight Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft to the Red Flag exercise to test the capabilities of the Eurofighter in head-to-head combat with the world’s most advanced fighter jets. The Typhoon’s participation provided a unique opportunity to compare its performance against the F-22 in close-range air-to-air combat, a domain where maneuverability and pilot skill can often outweigh technological advantages.

The Eurofighter Typhoon’s Advantages in Close-Range Combat

• Typhoon’s Design and Agility: Developed as a multirole aircraft, the Typhoon boasts a combination of lightweight construction, thrust-to-weight ratio, and an advanced control system that provides outstanding agility in close-range combat. Its capabilities in Within Visual Range (WVR) situations allow it to maneuver quickly, achieving a high angle of attack to outmaneuver adversaries in ways that the F-22, which excels in stealth and BVR but is slightly more restricted in agility, struggles to counter.
• Typhoon’s Strategic Preparation: In preparation for the WVR encounters at Red Flag, German pilots removed all external fuel tanks, shedding weight and increasing the aircraft’s maneuverability. In comparison, the F-22 Raptors participating in the exercise retained their external fuel tanks, which increased their range but slightly limited their agility and visibility reduction.

Red Flag WVR Combat Engagements

• The Typhoon’s Surprise Tactics: German pilots employed unexpected close-range tactics to leverage the Typhoon’s agility. According to Major Marc Gruene, a German pilot who participated in the exercise, the German Typhoons aimed to approach the F-22 at close quarters and engage aggressively, catching the F-22 pilots off-guard. The close-range maneuvers favored the Typhoon, whose agility was unhindered by external fuel tanks or weapon systems.
• Role of Thrust Vector Control (TVC) in the F-22: Although the F-22 Raptor is equipped with Thrust Vector Control (TVC) technology, which allows it to perform advanced aerial maneuvers, TVC was less effective in WVR engagements with the Typhoon. The Typhoon’s close-range maneuvers challenged the Raptor’s ability to fully capitalize on its thrust capabilities, revealing that while TVC enhances maneuverability, it may not always guarantee an advantage against highly agile opponents like the Eurofighter.

Contrasts in Combat Techniques: WVR vs. BVR Scenarios

• Beyond Visual Range (BVR) Superiority of the F-22: The F-22 is built to dominate in BVR combat. Its stealth capabilities allow it to avoid detection while its radar and sensor systems enable it to lock onto targets at great distances, typically before being detected. In a BVR scenario, the F-22 would likely have an overwhelming advantage over the Typhoon, given that it could potentially fire on the Typhoon before the Typhoon was aware of its presence.
• WVR Limitations of the F-22: Conversely, in WVR combat, the Raptor’s radar and stealth advantages diminish, as the confrontation relies more on the pilot’s skill and the aircraft’s maneuverability than on long-range detection. The Typhoon’s natural agility gave it a significant edge here, allowing it to gain advantageous positions and press its advantage at close range.

Post-Exercise Reactions and Observations

• German Air Force Pilot Comments: Following the Red Flag exercise, Major Gruene and other German pilots spoke with pride about the Typhoon’s performance against the F-22, famously noting that they had made “F-22 their lunch.” These statements, while lighthearted, highlighted the Typhoon’s effectiveness in WVR engagements and showed that even the most advanced fighter aircraft can be vulnerable in close-quarters combat.
• Implications for USAF and Air Dominance Strategy: The outcomes of the Red Flag exercise were a humbling moment for the USAF, emphasizing the importance of training and adaptability in dogfights. Although the F-22 remains an unmatched asset in BVR combat, Red Flag demonstrated that air dominance also relies on agility, close-range tactics, and the effective adaptation of technology to diverse combat scenarios.

Current and Future Developments in Air Superiority Strategy

• Enhancing F-22 Tactics and Training: In response to the challenges presented in WVR scenarios, the USAF has focused on evolving the Raptor’s close-combat tactics, preparing pilots to face agile adversaries in various combat situations. Additional training exercises, advanced simulation environments, and international military collaborations continue to be central to enhancing the Raptor’s combat versatility.
• The Future of Air Superiority and the Role of Sixth-Generation Fighters: The Red Flag exercise underscored the importance of integrating diverse combat capabilities in air superiority strategies. With the USAF’s commitment to next-generation technologies, such as the forthcoming Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) fighter, the emphasis on balancing stealth, sensor fusion, and maneuverability will shape future air combat tactics.

The 2012 Red Flag exercise served as a rare demonstration of how modern air combat is a dynamic blend of technology, strategy, and adaptability. While the F-22 Raptor is undoubtedly among the world’s most advanced fighter jets, the performance of the Eurofighter Typhoon in WVR combat offered insights into the multifaceted requirements of air superiority. This exercise revealed that while technological superiority is crucial, adaptability, pilot skill, and tactical flexibility are equally important in maintaining dominance in the skies.

In the wake of these findings, the USAF has taken strategic steps to strengthen the F-22’s capabilities across both long-range and close-range combat scenarios. The Red Flag exercise stands as a reminder that air superiority is not solely determined by technology but by a holistic approach that combines innovation with rigorous preparation, adaptability, and continual advancements in tactics and equipment.