This image was taken from a U.S. Air Force F-15 Eagle from the 131st Fighter Squadron, 104th Fighter Wing, based at Barnes Air National Guard Base in Massachusetts. It was captured during a close-range aerial combat exercise against a U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor from the 154th Wing based at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Hawaii.
You can clearly see the two planes maneuvering at very close range, pulling heavy Gs, with the F-22 releasing counter measure flares against simulated heat-seeking air-to-air missiles.
The dogfight took place off the coast of Penang, Malaysia on June 16, 2014, during “Cope Taufan 2014,″ a biennial large force employment exercise. Cope Taufan lasts from June 9 to 20 and is designed to improve U.S. and Malaysian military readiness.
Both aircraft are currently deployed to Royal Malaysian Air Force P.U. Butterworth, outside Penang.
The exercise marks the F-22′s first deployment to Southeast Asia, and featured mixed formations between U.S. planes and Royal Malaysian Air Force MIG-29N Fulcrums, Su-30s, and F-18 Hornet jets.
It’s not clear whether the F-22 has flown Dissimilar Air Combat Training against Malaysian Migs or Sukhois during the exercise. If the F-22 had, it would be interesting to know which ROE (Rules Of Engagement) were applied, as well as the ultimate outcome of the confrontations between the Russian-made multirole Su-30 and the U.S.-made F-22.
Below is a video of the exercise.
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