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A large wave of American airpower is heading toward the Middle East to bolsterforces already thereas U.S. President Donald Trumpconsiders an attack against Iran. Online flight trackers are showingF-22 Raptors,F-16 Fighting Falcons,E-3 Sentryradar planes and aU-2 Dragon Ladyspy plane either in transit across the Atlantic or newly arrived in Europe. In addition, a seventhArleigh Burkeclass guided missile destroyer, the USSPinckney, has recently deployed to the U.S. Central Command Area of Responsibility (AOR) as well, a U.S. Navy official told us.

While we don’t know whether Trump will decide to attack Iran, these are exactly themovements we’ve been expecting, but so far not seeing, in advance of a sustained operation, both defensive and offensive. The U.S. aircraft heading east represents the most intense phase of a force plus-up that began afterTrump started threatening Iranover itsharsh treatment of anti-regime protesters. Taken together, the force now assembling in the Middle East, combined with the Israel Air Force’s capabilities, including hundreds of fighter aircraft, as well as USAF ‘global airpower’ bomber flights, would be enough for a major operation that could last weeks not days. We will likely see additional assets deploy in the coming days.

This intensifying buildup comes against the backdrop ofanother round of peace negotiationsbetween Washington and Tehran that wrapped up Tuesday morning Eastern Time withfuture discussions being planned. You can read more about that later in this story.

Online flight tracking data shows that at least a dozen F-22s have left Langley Air Force Base in Virginia at about 5 a.m. Eastern, heading east. Their first destination is most likely Lakenheath Air Base in the U.K., a major transit hub for aircraft moving between the U.S. and Middle East. However, we don’t know that for sure and CENTCOM has declined to talk about aircraft, ship and troop movements.

F-22s are primarily America’s most capable air-to-air fighter, but they can also be used to destroy enemy air defenses and strike other ground targets. Raptors helped protectB-2A Spirit stealth bombersduring last June’sOperation Midnight Hammerattack on Iranian nuclear facilities. It should be noted that four days before Midnight Hammer, F-22s made a similar transit across the Atlantic and took part in the mission.

KC-46#ROMA02-03 & KC-135#ROMA04are heading across the pond on Coronet East 033 with#TREND51flt (x6 F-22), which are en route to RAF Lakenheath from Langley AFB. KC-46#ROMA01supported the initial drag.pic.twitter.com/Dwk0kw4V1B

I’m just going to say that they don’t forward deploy F-22s to leave them hanging around for ages.For Midnight Hammer there was a 4 day gap between the F-22s leaving CONUS and the operation.

At least 36 F-16s appear to be on the move toward the Middle East as well. This reportedly includes 12 each from Aviano Air Base in Italy, Spangdahlem Air Base in Germany and McEntire Joint National Guard Base (JNGB) in South Carolina. As with the Raptors, these jets could be used in a defensive air-to-air role against drones and missiles or in an air-to-ground role. There are a limited number of USAF F-16s already in theater.

Large USAF fighter deployment underway toward Middle East: 36× F-16 (12 Aviano, 12 Spangdahlem, 12 McEntire JNGB) and 12× F-22 TREND51 from Langley, supported by multiple tanker waves staging via Europe and the Atlantic toward regional bases.Details:USAFE: KC-135 LAGER 12/13…pic.twitter.com/sKmFSluKQm

Source: Drudge Report