Two stealth fighter F-22 fighter jets to intercept American Ratpor Syria when it carried out the attack in northern Syria last week. Raptor pilots said they flew within 2,000 feet of the aircraft unnoticed by Syrian pilots if they are being overshadowed.
Tense encounter occurred after Syrian jet dropped a bomb near the US forces and Kurdish positions in northern Syria. The Pentagon warned Syria that American forces are authorized to take action to keep its troops. Syria air has not dropped bombs in the area since the kejaian.
“I followed him around three loops,” said one 38-year-old American pilot who is sent on the mission to the USA TODAY Wednesday, August 24, 2016. “He did not seem to realize I was there.” Two pilots requested that their names be kept confidential for security reasons.
This meeting illustrates the complexity of fighting in Syria against ISIS raising fears that could happen misunderstanding which can be fatal.
“The big concern is the possibility of a miscalculation,” said Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Harrigian, Commander of Air Operations in the Middle East. “This can happen on both sides.”
Pilot coalition, he said, generally managed to avoid air Syria and Russia on Syria, although it was very crowded airspace.
“We made it very clear to our people on the highest level: We are not at war with Russia or Syria,” said Brig. Gen. Charles Corcoran, commander of the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing, which launched air strikes on Iraq and Syria from an undisclosed location in this region.
After the bombing of Syria in an area where American forces are the United States routinely conduct combat air patrol over Hasakah, and prepare pilots to take the action that should be done.
Friday’s incident, as reported in the late afternoon, when a Syrian aircraft were seen entering the airspace around Hasakah, and a pair of F-22, already in the region pursuing their direction.
The captain quickly using radio frequency commonly used to contact the Syrian air, asked the pilot to identify himself and declared his intentions. But there was no response.
US commanders also contacted Russia over the phone to search for information, but the Russians are not aware of the actions of Syria.
At that time the only way to get information is to send the American pilot approached the Su-24 Fencers Syria, to determine whether they are armed or drop bombs.
American pilot asked for permission to get closer to the Syrian plane to determine if they carry weapons on their wings or appear to attack ground targets. Usually the pilot was under orders to keep distance from Russian aircraft or Syria in order to avoid miscalculation.
Permission granted. One of the F-22 aircraft to maneuver behind Syria for a closer look. After about 15 minutes, Syrian jets left the area, it seems they are not aware of being followed.
Moments later a second jet entered Syrian airspace Hasakah. American pilots quickly approached sequence. None of the Syrian air seems to carry a weapon, the pilot said.
In the air command center in Qatar, which oversees air operations in the Middle East, Major General. Jay Silveria said he was ready to order the pilot to shoot down Syrian aircraft if they are threatening coalition forces. “I would not hesitate,” he said.
“Everything I needed at that time to shoot them is a report of the land that they are being attacked,” said Silveria. “We are in a perfect position to execute some fairly sophisticated weaponry.”
But reports from the ground and the American pilot confirms that the Syrian plane did not drop bombs and apparently only transiting through the region. Syria has an air base in the region, and it is not uncommon for them to fly over the area.
F-22 is a stealth aircraft, and pilots are trained to avoid being seen by their enemies. Commander finally realized interception by Raptor has weaknesses because then the best Syria did not understand the message delivered considering they are not aware if overshadowed.
“From now on if that happens, we will show that we make them visible to them,” said Corcoran
