A dozen of the world’s most advanced fighter jets touched down in Israel this week, signaling a sharp escalation in America’s military posture as President Donald Trump warned Iran to abandon its nuclear ambitions or face consequences.
According to The Times of Israel, twelve U.S. F-22 stealth fighters arrived Tuesday at an Israeli Air Force base as part of the American buildup across the Middle East. Open-source flight tracking data showed the aircraft departing from Royal Air Force Lakenheath in the United Kingdom, though one jet reportedly turned back because of a technical issue before completing the trip.
The arrival of the F-22 Raptor is significant. Operated exclusively by the United States, the aircraft is widely regarded as the most advanced air superiority fighter ever built. Developed by Lockheed Martin for the U.S. Air Force during the final years of the Cold War, the jet was designed to guarantee American control of the skies against advanced Soviet aircraft. It entered service in 2005 and remains unmatched in its core mission: air dominance.
The F-22 stands out for its blend of stealth, speed, agility, and advanced avionics. Its low-observable design lets it evade radar and strike threats before being detected. It can also supercruise at supersonic speeds without afterburners, extending range and reducing its heat signature.
First 3 of 12 F-22 Raptors departing RAF Lakenheath pic.twitter.com/qo7E0Ffu8O
— Glenn (@TallGlenn85) February 24, 2026
Thrust-vectoring nozzles give the Raptor exceptional maneuverability, a key advantage in dogfights. Its radar and sensor fusion systems provide pilots with a clear, real-time battlefield picture.
Primarily built for air-to-air combat, the F-22 can also carry precision-guided bombs in internal bays that preserve stealth. While newer jets like the F-35 offer broader roles, the F-22 remains the benchmark for air superiority.
The deployment comes as nuclear negotiations between Washington and Tehran are set to resume Thursday in Geneva. Trump has made clear that diplomacy remains his first option, but he has also insisted that Iran must fully abandon uranium enrichment and any pathway toward a nuclear weapon.
“We are in negotiations with [Iran],” Trump said during his State of the Union address. “They want to make a deal, but we haven’t heard those secret words: ‘We will never have a nuclear weapon.’”
US Air Force F-22 RAPTOR fighter jets overhead Poland
The president added that while he prefers a diplomatic solution, he will not allow Iran to obtain nuclear weapons under any circumstances .
The F-22 deployment is part of one of the largest American force concentrations in the region since the 2003 Iraq invasion. In addition to advanced fighter jets, open-source monitoring groups have tracked hundreds of US cargo flights and refueling aircraft entering the Middle East in recent weeks. The USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, is also positioned in the eastern Mediterranean, further strengthening the US military presence .
Israeli officials reportedly believe that the possibility of a US strike on Iranian nuclear facilities is growing more likely if talks collapse. One senior Israeli official told Channel 12 that a true diplomatic breakthrough would be “the surprise of the year,” according to The Times of Israel. Military leaders from both nations have been in contact as contingency planning intensifies.
Iranian officials, for their part, say they remain committed to negotiations but refuse to surrender what they describe as their right to peaceful nuclear technology. Tehran has long denied seeking nuclear weapons, though it has enriched uranium to levels that Western officials argue have no civilian justification.
Against this backdrop, Trump administration officials have rejected speculation about imminent military action. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said reports based on anonymous sources claiming to know the president’s decision-making are inaccurate, saying that Trump alone will determine the next step .
Still, the arrival of America’s premier stealth fighters in Israel sends a clear signal.
