F-22s head to United Arab Emirates
Marietta Daily Journal
by Marcus E. Howard
April 29, 2012
A number of Lockheed Martin-built F-22 Raptors have been deployed to the United Arab Emirates in the Middle East, near Iran, signaling escalating concerns by U.S. officials over Iran’s nuclear weapons program.
The stealth jet fighters have been quietly deployed to hangars at the UAE’s Al Dafra Air Base, less than 200 miles from Iran’s mainland, according to a recent report by Aviation Week, a trade publication.
While an Air Force spokesman confirmed to ABC News that the Raptors have been deployed to a base in southwest Asia, which includes the UAE, he assured the network that the presence of the jets was not meant to be a threat to Iran.
“This is a very normal deployment to strengthen military relationships, promote sovereign and regional security, improve combined tactical air operations and enhance interoperability of forces,” Lt. Col. John Dorrian told ABC. He declined to tell the network what the Raptors’ mission was or how many planes had been deployed, citing operational security. …
Read on: http://mdjonline.com/view/full_story/18399174/article-F-22s-head-to-United-Arab-Emirates
