First Line of Missile Defense

American F-22s deployed to CENTCOM. They are potentially the first line of missile defense above the enemy launch sites.

Interesting:

Air Force F-22 Raptors are now in the Middle East “to address threats posed by Iran and Iranian-backed groups” against Israel and American troops in the region, U.S. Central Command announced Aug. 8. 

In my view--and not only my view, of course--of a layered anti-missile defense in depth, these planes are the first line that can, while inside enemy territory, shoot down ballistic missiles while they are launched and slowly building up a head of steam in their ballistic path.

F-35s could do the same or actually bomb the launch sites. Which is useful if the enemy launches sequentially rather than in a single pulse.

And for the cheaper drones? While not something that can be operating in enemy air space, guided rocket trucks could push the defensive belt forward quite a bit.

NOTE: TDR Winter War of 2022 coverage continues here.

NOTE: I'm adding updates on the Last Hamas War in this post.

NOTE: I'm now on Substack, with The Dignified Rant: Evolved.