Above Iran, the sky is a stressful area; it is a place where clever decisions go hand in hand with vigilance and the use of sophisticated technology. For a long time, the US and Iranian military have been up there playing a tense ballet. Spy drones like the MQ-1 Predator would frequently fly very close to the Iranian air border to gather data and gently explore the limits. However, in 2013, an unusual event took place. The brief, nearly cinematic encounter between a US F-22 Raptor and two Iranian F-4 Phantoms fundamentally changed the way air fights were conducted and sent out a very clear message about who controlled the sky.
To appreciate the meaning of that event, it’s useful to take a step back in time to November 2012. That was when two Iranian Su-25 Frogfoots detected an American Predator drone about 16 miles off Iran’s coast. The Predator was not designed to dogfight—it’s sluggish, unarmored, and equipped for long-range surveillance. Nevertheless, it was immediately the target. Iranian pilots took several gun runs with their 30mm cannons.
The drone somehow survived intact—possibly because the Iranians were low on rounds. Whether the attack was intended as an actual kill or merely a demonstration shot, the message was received with crystal clarity by the U.S. As a result, drones operating near Iran started getting fighter escorts. At times, that was F/A-18 Super Hornets from nearby Navy ships. Other times, it was something much quieter—the F-22 Raptor, stealthily flying out of the United Arab Emirates.
Then March 2013 arrived. Another MQ-1 Predator was on a routine surveillance mission, again close to Iranian airspace. Again, Iranian fighter jets scrambled to intercept. But this time, the Iranians had a higher stake. It wasn’t the low-and-slow Frogfoots—it was two F-4 Phantoms, Cold War-era fighters that could still reach Mach 2 and were still packed with serious firepower. To Iran, the unarmed drone was sitting duck fare. But there was one huge thing that the Iranian pilots didn’t realize: they weren’t alone.
High above and entirely radar invisible, an F-22 Raptor flown by Lt. Col. Kevin “Showtime” Sutterfield was following along behind. Due to its stealth configuration, the Raptor had been tracking along behind the Iranian Phantoms without ever being detected. As one of the F-4s targeted the drone, Showtime crept silently down under the jet to inspect its guns.
Next, in a scene that seemed more out of a spy movie than real, he eased up alongside the Phantom and called over the radio. “You really oughta go home,” he told them. The Iranian pilots, realizing belatedly that they had been flying near a stealth fighter, didn’t protest. They turned the plane around and headed back to base.
No bullets were fired. No dogfight ensued. But that serendipitous, otherworldly conversation changed the dynamics of aerial power. The U.S. had proven its point—not with missiles, but with presence. The F-22’s stealth capability to linger undetected in enemy airspace gave the U.S. complete mastery over the encounter. For Iran, that they never realized the threat until it was alongside them was probably a shocking revelation.
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Welsh later recounted the tale publicly. He praised the skill and professionalism of Showtime, saying he was a Reservist who “flies the F-22… and flies it pretty darn well.” But beyond that, the tale illustrated how the combination of stealth, speed, and situational awareness in the Raptor made it the ultimate leveler, even against more than one enemy fighter. The F-22 turned the numbers game into a joke. Two to one didn’t count when one side couldn’t even see two.
It’s not the technology that makes battles like this significant. It’s the message. The presence of the Raptor in concert with that drone spoke volumes: the U.S. will protect its assets, and it can protect them in ways that make enemies uncertain of what they’re even dealing with. But equally important was restraint. Rather than making it a confrontational exchange, the F-22 pilot exercised judgment over gunfire. That one calm warning probably averted a scenario that could have turned into an international incident.
Aside from the tactics, this encounter highlighted a gulf between fifth-generation stealth fighters and older planes still operated by many air forces, including Iran’s. The lesson: regardless of pilot experience or how quickly the jet, old technology can’t compete with new stealth. As aviation analyst Alex Hollings noted, this type of encounter highlights just how overpowering stealth platforms have become when combined with smart, calculated application.
There’s also a larger issue here regarding how the wars of the future are being fought. It’s not always which side possesses the largest missile or the fastest aircraft. It’s about perception-shaping, decision-influencing, and operating in manners that continue to keep your enemies guessing. That 2013 F-22 incident off the coast of Iran was a prime example of that evolution. Within minutes—and using just a few words—it demonstrated how information, invisibility, and timing could redefine the rules of engagement altogether.