[NATO's New Tactics: F-22 Hunting, F-35 Controlling the Battlefield]

According to Belgian military media (Army Recognition), NATO has recently developed a new future air combat strategy. While the U.S. "Raptor" fighter (F-22) takes responsibility for gaining air superiority and eliminating aerial threats, the "Lightning" fighter (F-35) simultaneously collects and shares battlefield information, playing a controlling role. This approach highlights how future air warfare is shifting from a competition of individual aircraft performance to networked, collaborative operations among multinational stealth fleets.

It is reported that Finland’s first batch of "Lightning" fighter pilots have recently arrived at an Air Force base in Arkansas, USA, to undergo training. During this process, they conducted joint exercises with the U.S. Air Force's "Raptor" fighter units stationed locally—offering the outside world a glimpse into NATO’s envisioned future air combat concept.

Although both the "Raptor" and the "Lightning" belong to fifth-generation fighters, their roles differ significantly. The former emphasizes air combat performance and air dominance, while the latter boasts powerful sensors and advanced information fusion capabilities, enabling it to instantly integrate critical intelligence from land, sea, and air domains and then share this data via secure communication links with allied forces.

In the NATO alliance, the "Raptor" fighter is exclusive to the United States, but many countries have already procured and deployed the "Lightning" fighter. This widespread adoption provides the practical foundation for the new air combat doctrine designed for NATO coalition forces.

The joint training between Finnish pilots and the U.S. "Raptor" units demonstrates NATO’s transition from traditional joint operations toward a higher level of coordinated stealth fighter combat. In future operations, the U.S. "Raptor" can leverage its superior stealth and maneuverability to penetrate deep into enemy airspace, prioritizing the elimination of enemy aircraft and air defense systems. Meanwhile, allied "Lightning" fighters serve as airborne information nodes, continuously transmitting target locations and threat intelligence, enabling coalition forces to share a unified, real-time operational picture.

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1869145979423753/

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