The successes achieved in the opening hours of Operation Epic Fury were achieved through the combined and complementary efforts of many different US aircraft.

The scale and diversity of the US aviation fleet was displayed during the opening salvo of Operation Epic Fury, in which around 20 different aviation systems were used against Iran. No other nation in the world boasts a comparable fleet of high-low systems, including stealth strategic bombers, supersonic bombers, stealth fighters, legacy fighters, support platforms, and drones—the combination of which proved lethal to Iran’s air defense network and its senior leadership in the first phase of the operation.

The operation—both in its planning and execution phases—hints at the strength of US airpower, as well as how well it functions across different service branches, most notably the US Navy and the US Air Force. Crucially, aerial success was not achieved with fighter jets and bombers alone, but by the efforts of a plethora of support aircraft: electronic warfare jets, cargo planes, aerial refueling tankers, and drones.

America’s Bombers Carried Out Strategic Strike and Bombardment Missions

• The B-2 Spirit stealth bombers flew 40-hour round-trip missions from Whiteman AFB, Missouri to drop 2,000 pounds GBU-31 precision-guided bombs on hardened underground ballistic missile facilities in an operation very similar to last summer’s Operation Midnight Hammer. The B-2 is the world’s only operational stealth bomber, yet is slated for retirement in the years to come.
• The B-1B Lancer conducted non-stop flights from the US, too, striking above-ground ballistic missile sights and command-and-control centers. The B-1B is slated for retirement and is currently one of the only supersonic bombers in operation. 

Conspicuously absent from the opening days of Operation Epic Fury was the B-52 Stratofortress, the backbone of America’s strategic bomber fleet. It is unknown why the Stratofortress did not take part in the bombing, but given its slow speed and lack of stealth features, it would have been an easier target for Iran’s anti-air missile network. Since that network has now been substantially degraded, the B-52 may make a future appearance in the conflict.

Also absent from the skies over Iran was the B-21 Raider, the sixth-generation stealth bomber slated to replace the B-1 and the B-2. However, the US Air Force only possesses a handful of B-21 prototypes.

The US Used Tactical Fighters for Air Superiority

The US deployed both of its fifth-generation stealth fighters:

• The F-22 Raptor, the world’s preeminent air superiority fighter, was forward-deployed to Ovda Airbase in Israel to secure airspace and provide stealth dominance. The F-22 Raptor was the world’s first operational fifth-generation fighter and remains unmatched in air-to-air engagements.
• The F-35 Lightning II, in both A- and C-variants were used for precision strikes on leadership compounds and air defense systems. The Air Force operated the A-variant from land bases while the Navy operated the carrier-capable C-variant from the USS Abraham Lincoln. 

Legacy fighters contributed, too.

• The F-15E Strike Eagle was used for ground-attack missions. Notably, three F-15Es were lost in a friendly-fire incident over Kuwait, though all six crew members ejected safely and were recovered.
• The F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, the primary strike fighter for the US Navy, was deployed from the USS Gerald R. Ford and Lincoln and used to target mobile missile launchers and naval assets.
• The F-16 Fighting Falcon provided multi-role support for daytime strike packages. Versatile and agile, the F-16 is generally considered the Air Force’s workhorse fighter. 
• And the A-10 Thunderbolt II—affectionately known as the “Warthog”—was deployed to provide close-air support (CAS) in the manner only the A-10 can provide, thanks to a GAU-8 Avenger auto cannon capable of firing Pepsi can-sized rounds at a rate of roughly 60-rounds-per-second. 

Specialized Aircraft for Combat Support and Electronic Warfare

Multiple platforms provided support and enablement:

• The Navy’s EA-18G Growler provided critical electronic jamming, helping to suppress Iranian radar and integrated air defense systems (IADS), in effect paving the way for other aircraft to more safely operate.
• The E-3 Sentry (AWACS) and E-2D Hawkeye provided “eyes in the sky” for airborne command-and-control and battlefield management. These support aircraft helped to coordinate the operations of hundreds of aircraft in a complicated and high-risk airspace. 
• Meanwhile, the RC-135 and P-8 Poseidon conducted signals intelligence and maritime patrol to monitor Iranian naval movements.
• The KC-135 Stratotanker and KC-46 Pegasus provided essential mid-air refueling, enabling long-range bombers and fighters to remain on-station.
• And the C-17 Globemaster III and C-130 Hercules spent weeks prior to the engagement hauling massive quantities of munitions, equipment, and personnel to the region. 

Drones Augmented America’s Manned Aircraft

Emphasizing the trend towards unmanned systems, the US utilized autonomous and remotely piloted aircraft.

• The MQ-9 Reaper, no stranger to Middle Eastern conflicts, was used for precision surveillance and missile launches.
• And lastly, the Low-Cost Uncrewed Combat Attack System (LUCAS) one-way attack drone made its combat debut, used to supplement missile attacks.

About the Author: Harrison Kass

Harrison Kass is a senior defense and national security writer at The National Interest. Kass is an attorney and former political candidate who joined the US Air Force as a pilot trainee before being medically discharged. He focuses on military strategy, aerospace, and global security affairs. He holds a JD from the University of Oregon and a master’s in Global Journalism and International Relations from NYU.

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