US military airlift activity suggests possible additional Patriot deployment to Israel - Anadolu Ajansı

A new wave of US military cargo flights to Israel suggests Washington may be preparing to deploy an additional Patriot air defense battery, according to open-source flight-tracking observations Tuesday.

At least six US Air Force C-17A Globemaster III cargo aircraft carrying air defense equipment began a second wave of flights from Biggs Army Airfield at Fort Bliss, Texas, to Ovda Air Base in southern Israel.

The latest movements were observed Tuesday, following eight C-17 flights that reached Ovda Air Base last week, according to the observations.

Once the second group completes its journey, the total number of C-17 flights from Biggs to Ovda is expected to reach 16, according to open-source intelligence.

The scale of the airlift could indicate the deployment of a complete Patriot air defense battery rather than a minimum engagement package (MEP), which consists of a contingent capable of conducting air and missile defense operations anywhere in the CENTCOM area of responsibility in a maximum of 96 hours.

The latest flights followed further preparations at Biggs Army Airfield, where another C-17 operating under the call sign REACH 324 departed Monday for Gander International Airport in Canada.

The movement was separate from the previous eight flights to Israel and suggested that another deployment of Patriot systems could be in preparation.

Open-source flight tracking also recorded additional US military cargo aircraft movements across the Middle East and Europe.

C-17 aircraft stationed at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar since the beginning of the war departed Nov. 1 for Ramstein and Spangdahlem air bases in Germany.

Another C-17 flew Tuesday from Pope Army Airfield in North Carolina to Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait.

Two other aircraft departed the Kuwaiti base for Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona.

Meanwhile, the US military continued withdrawing support equipment from RAF Fairford in the UK, with two C-17 aircraft departing over a 48-hour period.

One aircraft flew to Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota, while the other headed to Pease Air National Guard Base in New Hampshire.

Two US Navy flights to Al Minhad Air Base in the United Arab Emirates were also recorded.

Although the movements suggest a significant US military airlift operation involving Israel and the wider Middle East, the deployment of a complete Patriot battery has not been independently confirmed.