In a last-minute change, the United States Air Force has withdrawn two F-22 Raptor stealth fighter jets from the planned Super Bowl LX flyover lineup. The decision, announced on Friday, was attributed to pressing "operational assignments" that required the advanced aircraft elsewhere.
Operational Demands Prompt Aircraft Reassignment
Katie Spencer, who coordinates the Department of the Air Force's sports outreach programs and organised the flyover formation, explained that the F-22s were originally part of the concept but were reassigned as military operational tempo increased. "We wanted fifth-generation aircraft from the Air Force and fifth-generation aircraft from the Navy," Spencer told The Military Times in a Friday interview. "But as things happen in our military, operational tempo has increased, and so the F-22s got pulled for some operational assignments."
Spencer declined to provide specific details about the missions requiring the F-22s' reassignment. However, these advanced fighters have recently been involved in several high-profile operations that demonstrate their critical role in national defence.
Recent F-22 Combat Operations
In June, F-22 Raptors played a crucial role in Operation Midnight Hammer, a B-2 Spirit bomber-led strike campaign targeting Iranian nuclear facilities. Utilising their sophisticated sensors and stealth capabilities, the F-22s monitored for potential threats and provided real-time intelligence to the strike package. According to reports, Iranian aircraft failed to intercept US military forces, and Iran's air-defence systems were unable to detect the stealth aircraft involved in the mission.
In preparation for that operation, approximately ten F-22s, along with other US fighters including F-35s and F-16s, were deployed to the Middle East to support the strike and establish air dominance if necessary. More recently, during January and early February, a mix of US aircraft conducted strikes on ISIS targets in Syria during an operation known as Hawkeye Strike.
Revised Super Bowl Flyover Lineup
The revised flyover for Super Bowl LX will now feature aircraft representing 250 years of American airpower. The formation scheduled to pass over the stadium includes:
- Two Air Force B-1B Lancer bombers from Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota
- Two Air National Guard F-15C Eagles
- Two Navy F/A-18E Super Hornets
- Two F-35C Lightning II fighters from Naval Air Station Lemoore in California
"Our Guard members have stepped in to fill that role, and we're super grateful for that," Spencer commented regarding the revised formation.
Flyovers Serve Dual Purpose as Training Exercises
Spencer emphasised that even for the aircraft approved to participate in the Super Bowl flyover, the event serves practical military purposes beyond ceremonial display. As defence officials have noted in previous years, these flyovers double as valuable training exercises and do not require additional taxpayer funding.
"These flyovers serve as time-over-target training for our crews," Spencer explained. "They serve as recovery efforts with our maintainers. And so the reason that we are so proficient at operations like Midnight Hammer and other things that you'll see is because we can replicate those real-world scenarios with this type of flying."
The Super Bowl LX kickoff is scheduled for Sunday at 6:30 p.m. EST, with the revised aircraft formation providing spectators with a display of American airpower while simultaneously serving important training functions for military personnel.
