Santa Clara, California : The United States Air Force has reassigned its F-22 Raptor stealth fighters from the planned Super Bowl LX flyover, redirecting the aircraft to active operational missions as military demands increase, service officials confirmed. The decision removes the Raptors from the February 8 ceremony at Levi’s Stadium, where they were scheduled to participate in a joint aerial display marking the 250th anniversary of the United States.
The flyover, traditionally timed with the national anthem, will still proceed but with a revised aircraft lineup reflecting the change in mission priorities. Air Force officials cited rising operational tempo as the reason for withdrawing the F-22s, emphasizing that real-world taskings take precedence over ceremonial appearances.
Katie Spencer, Sports Outreach Program manager for the Department of the Air Force, confirmed the adjustment in an interview with Military Times, noting that the original intent had been to showcase fifth-generation aircraft from both the Air Force and the Navy.
“We wanted fifth-generation aircraft from the Air Force and fifth-generation aircraft from the Navy,” Spencer said. “But as things happen in our military, operational tempo has increased, and so the F-22s got pulled for some operational assignments.”
Revised Flyover Composition
Planning documents initially called for a mixed formation of Air Force F-22 Raptors and Navy F-35C Lightning IIs to highlight U.S. fifth-generation stealth capabilities. With the Raptors reassigned, the Air Force and Navy finalized an alternative formation drawing from aircraft already positioned on the U.S. West Coast.
The updated flyover will include two B-1B Lancer bombers from Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota, two F-15C Eagles from the Fresno Air National Guard Base, California, two F-35C Lightning IIs, and two F/A-18E Super Hornets, both operating from Naval Air Station Lemoore, California. The F-15C Eagles were incorporated late in the planning process to maintain the scale and balance of the flyover following the removal of the F-22s.
According to officials familiar with the planning, the substitution ensured that the flyover would continue to reflect joint service participation while remaining within the logistical and operational constraints imposed by the reassignment of the Raptors.
Operational Environment
The Air Force has not disclosed the specific missions or locations requiring the F-22 deployments, citing operational security. The reassignment, however, comes amid heightened U.S. military activity in the Middle East.
In June 2025, U.S. forces conducted “Operation Midnight Hammer,” a strike campaign targeting Iranian nuclear facilities, during which F-22 aircraft played a central role in air dominance and strike coordination. More recently, U.S. forces have carried out “Operation Hawkeye Strike,” a series of operations against ISIS targets in Syria throughout January and early February 2026.
At the same time, U.S. military posture in the region has expanded, including the deployment of the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group and additional air and missile defense systems to the Persian Gulf. While officials have not directly linked the Super Bowl reassignment to these developments, the broader security environment has fueled public speculation about the operational use of the Raptors.
Training Role of Flyovers
Air Force officials stressed that flyovers, while highly visible public events, are officially categorized as training missions.
“These flyovers serve as time-over-target training for our crews,” Spencer said. “They serve as recovery efforts with our maintainers. The reason that we are so proficient at operations like Midnight Hammer and other missions is because we can replicate real-world scenarios with this type of flying.”
Officials added that aircrews and maintenance teams often integrate flyovers into routine training schedules, allowing pilots to practice navigation, timing, and coordination, while ground crews rehearse aircraft recovery and support procedures.
Commemorative Details and Ceremony
The absence of the F-22s will be visible in ancillary elements associated with the event. Official Super Bowl LX flyover commemorative patches, produced before the reassignment decision, include the silhouette of the F-22 Raptor among the aircraft depicted.
The flyover itself remains scheduled for Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara and will be conducted during the national anthem. The ceremony will be overseen by a joint armed forces color guard from the Military District of Washington, maintaining the traditional military presence associated with the Super Bowl despite the revised aircraft lineup.
Air Force officials reiterated that while public interest in the flyover is significant, operational readiness remains the primary consideration when allocating high-demand assets such as the F-22 Raptor.
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