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Thursday, February 26, 2026
Satellite images from Chinese intel firm show 11 US F-22 fighter jets at Israeli air base
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleEmanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent
Chinese intelligence firm MizarVision publishes satellite images showing the deployment of American F-22 stealth fighter jets at the Israeli Air Force’s Ovda Airbase.
The images provide visual confirmation of 11 F-22s at the airbase, along with what appears to be the deployment of an air defense system in the area, which MizarVision labels as a Patriot model.
MizarVision has alleged ties to the Chinese military and has been accused of republishing imagery from other satellite firms with its own overlays.
The movement of the jets comes as part of the United States’s massive buildup of military forces in the Middle East, as US President Donald Trump considers whether to take military action against Iran.
The deployment of US fighter jets at Israeli airbases for operational activities — rather than for joint training with the IAF — is extremely rare.
MizarVision has released new satellite imagery confirming 11 U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor stealth fighters deployed at Ovda Air Base in Israel.
The images also appear to show components of an air defense battery, likely associated with the MIM-104 Patriot missile defense system. https://t.co/qDtFyFRoRD pic.twitter.com/hXYjH8DUio
— Egypt's Intel Observer (@EGYOSINT) February 26, 2026
The F-22, operated exclusively by the US Air Force, is the world’s most advanced air-superiority fighter, built for unmatched speed, maneuverability, and stealth in air-to-air combat.
On Tuesday, 12 F-22s departed from the Royal Air Force Lakenheath airbase in England and headed to Israel. Eleven of the stealth fighters were deployed to the IAF base in southern Israel, while one returned to the airbase in England due to a technical issue.
According to analysts monitoring open-source flight tracking data, another 12 F-22s arrived at RAF Lakenheath yesterday. The additional 12 F-22s, along with the one with the technical issue, are all expected to later head to Israel and be deployed at the same IAF airbase, eventually bringing the total number of American stealth fighters stationed in Israel to 24.
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