At 3:00 AM Eastern Time, explosions lit the skyline over Tehran. But by the time the first blast echoed across the city, the battle for the sky was already over. In this rapid-response breakdown, we analyze how the F-22 Raptor and the F-35 Lightning II shaped the outcome of Operation Epic Fury before sunrise. This wasn’t just an airstrike — it was a demonstration of fully networked fifth-generation warfare.
We’ll cover:
• How the F-35 degraded Iran’s integrated air defense system (IADS)
• The F-22’s role in air dominance and interceptor deterrence
• How stealth aircraft enabled cruise missiles and strike packages to operate with precision • Why this operation marks a shift toward compressed, first-hour warfare
• What Iran’s missile retaliation reveals about modern air and missile defense
Modern airpower isn’t just about bombs and payloads — it’s about architecture. Sensor fusion, electronic warfare, stealth geometry, and real-time data sharing are changing how wars begin… and how they’re decided. If this is what the first hour of conflict looks like in 2026, the strategic implications are enormous. Let me know your thoughts in the comments: Can layered air defenses adapt to fifth-generation architecture? Or has the balance shifted permanently? A deeper, long-form documentary version with expanded technical analysis is coming soon.