Patriot missiles, Stratotankers, C-17s spotted: Satellite images show US military build-up near Iran

Satellite imagery reviewed by forensic analysts indicates a significant build-up of US military assets across key bases in the Middle East, including Qatar and Jordan, amid heightened tensions with Iran.

At Al Udeid Air Base, the largest US military facility in the region, satellite images from early February showed Patriot missile systems mounted on mobile truck launchers instead of semi-static stations. According to Reuters, the missiles were observed installed on M983 Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Trucks (HEMTT), a configuration that allows for faster repositioning if required. William Goodhind, a forensic imagery analyst with Contested Ground, told Reuters that mounting the systems on mobile platforms provides greater mobility, enabling them to be moved to alternative sites more quickly.

Imagery dated February 1 showed an RC-135 reconnaissance aircraft, three C-130 Hercules aircraft, 18 KC-135 Stratotankers and seven C-17 Globemaster III transport aircraft at Al Udeid. By comparison, images from January 17 showed 14 Stratotankers and two C-17 aircraft. The February imagery also showed up to 10 MIM-104 Patriot air defence systems mounted on HEMTT vehicles, according to Reuters.

Muwaffaq, Jordan

Satellite images from February 2 of a site in Muwaffaq Salti Air Base showed 17 F-15E strike aircraft, eight A-10 Thunderbolt aircraft, four C-130 transport planes and four unidentified helicopters. Earlier images from January 16 were of lower resolution, making it difficult to identify all aircraft present at that time. At a second location in Muwaffaq, images from February 2 showed one C-17, one C-130 and four EA-18G Growler electronic warfare aircraft, whereas satellite imagery from January 25 had shown no aircraft at that site.

Iran’s missile posture

Iran has said it replenished its missile stockpiles following a two-week conflict last summer during which Israel struck its nuclear facilities and other military targets, a campaign later joined by the United States. Iran maintains underground missile complexes near Tehran, Kermanshah, Semnan and along the Gulf coast. Satellite images also showed the Iranian naval drone carrier IRIS Shahid Bagheri at sea about 5 km off Bandar Abbas on January 27 and again near the port on February 10.

What are Patriot air defence systems?

The Patriot, or MIM-104, short for Phased Array Tracking Radar to Intercept on Target, is a long-range air defence system designed to counter tactical ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and aircraft. It is produced by Raytheon and Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control in the United States. The system is used by the US and several allied countries, including Germany, Greece, Israel, Japan, Kuwait, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Poland, Sweden, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Romania, Spain and Taiwan. The US deployed Patriot systems during the 2003 Iraq conflict and approved additional Patriot missile batteries and a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system for Saudi Arabia in October 2019 following a drone attack on oil facilities operated by Saudi Aramco the previous month.

With inputs from TOI