Increased USAF fighter presence for the Middle East

As expected, recently more USAF, consisting of Air Combat Command (ACC), United States Air Force Europe (USAFE) and Air National Guard (ANG) fighter aircraft departed the Continental United States (CONUS) to be embodied into the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing at Al Dhafra Air Base (United Arab Emirates) and Muwaffaq Salti/Al Azraq Air Base (Jordan).

To bolster the US posture and enhance air operations throughout the Middle East, the USAF took steps to augment USAF F-15 Eagle, F-16 Fighting Falcon, and A-10 Thunderbolt II fighter aircraft squadrons in the region. The US maintains ready forces globally to further reinforce this deterrence posture if required.

On 1 October 2023, ten A-10C Thunderbolt IIs, bound eastwards, left Davis-Monthan AFB (AZ). The following 355th Wing, with a mix of the 354th Fighter Squadron and 357th Fighter Squadron, A-10Cs are now deployed to the Middle East to make up the 354th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron at Al Dhafra:

78-0670/DM (354th FS), 78-0684 (no markings), 78-0694/DM (357th FS), 79-0168/DM (357th FS), 79-0196/DM (357th FS), 79-0202/DM (354th FS mks), 80-0151/DM (354th FS), 80-0159/DM (357th FS), 81-0988/- (357th FS) and one unknown example.

On 13 October 2023, flying from the United Kingdom, RAF Lakenheath’s 494th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron’s F-15E Strike Eagles arrived in the US Central Command (USCENTCOM). The following 48th Fighter Wing, a mix of the 492nd Fighter Squadron and 494th Fighter Squadron, Eagles moved to Muwaffaq Salti/Al Azraq:

91-0310/LN (no markings), 91-0313/LN (no markings), 91-0334/LN (494th FS), 91-0602/LN (494th FS), 91-0603/LN (494th FS), 91-0604/LN (494th FS), 96-0201/LN (as "48FW"), 96-0202/LN (492nd FS), 96-0204/LN (no markings) and 00-3000/LN (no markings).

From 18 October 2023 till 21 October 2023, a dozen USAF Air National Guard F-16C Fighting Falcons were seen transiting Morón Air Base (Spain) while enroute to the Middle East to be deployed in support of USCENTCOM. The following mix of CO coded Colorado, AC coded New Jersey and DC coded District of Columbia Air National Guard F-16Cs were noted at Morón:

86-0276/DC (121st FS/113th Wing), 86-0287/CO, 86-0330/DC (121st FS/113th Wing), 86-0352/AC (119th FS/177th FW), 86-0370/CO (120th FS/140th Wing), 87-0226/AC (119th FS/177th FW), 87-0250/AC (119th FS/177th FW), 87-0254/CO (120th FS/140th Wing), 87-0284/- ("140WG" c/s), 87-0294/- (no markings), 87-0314/DC (121st FS/113th Wing) and 87-0346/AC (119th FS/177th FW).

Credit photos: DMAviation (On Twitter) and USAF