Preparing for War: U.S. Deploys New F-35 Squadron Near Iranian Border as Tensions Rise

Amid a broad redeployment of assets to the Persian Gulf region from May 2019, the U.S. Air Force has deployed a new F-35A stealth fighter squadron to the Al Dhafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates. The deployment comes amid escalating tensions between Iran and the United States, and F-35s based at Al Dhafra are ideally located to engage high value targets from nuclear facilities to airbases across Iranian territory. A squadron of F-35s is already deployed to the region alongside a smaller unit of heavier F-22 Raptors based in Qatar, just two of several air units recently stationed within range of Iranian territory alongside F-15E Strike Eagles, B-52H Stratofortress heavy bombers and other assets.

The U.S. Military is currently deploying 3,000 new personnel to Saudi Arabia alongside high end air defence systems, and with Iran increasing uranium enrichment and its officials threatening to withdraw from the nuclear non-proliferation treaty, it has been speculated that a preventitative strike is under consideration in Washington. While F-35s and B-52s are capable of carrying ordinance heavy enough to neutralise most targets, the Air Force in May conducted a prolific test for GBU-57 massive ordinance penetrators capable of neutralising more heavily fortified facilities and subsequently placed considerable orders to expand its inventory. These are deployed from B-2 Spirit bombers, which are capable of reaching targets across Iran from bases on the U.S. mainland. While the F-35 is far from fully combat ready, its surveillance capabilities alone make it a valuable asset - and the opportunity to operate the platform so near enemy territory could provide valuable experience. Risks nevertheless remain when deploying such aircraft, with Iran's ballistic missile arsenal capable of striking American military bases across the Middle East, neutralising runways and destroying billions of dollars worth of hardware.