All US war machines in the Middle East

In recent weeks, the United States has been concentrating in the Middle East its largest military force in the region since it invaded Iraq more than 20 years ago. The force that is or is making its way to the region includes a naval fleet that contains two aircraft carriers and about 17 destroyers and battleships, many dozens of fighter planes, electronic warfare, intelligence, transport and control, and between 30 and 40 thousand fighters.

The massive concentration of forces in the region is expected to provide the United States with tremendous firepower in case it decides to attack Iran, and will allow it to conduct a weeks-long air campaign against the Ayatollah regime. N12, with the help of Major General (Ret.) Eliezer (Cheney) Marom, organizes the American capabilities in the region

• 2 aircraft carriers: The highlight of the US Navy in the Middle East is the two aircraft carriers, Lincoln and Ford. Lincoln arrived in the region at the beginning of the month, while Ford, the largest and most powerful aircraft carrier in the world, is making its way to the region in recent days. These are two huge and mobile air force bases, which carry about 5,000 soldiers and dozens of advanced fighter jets each, alongside electronic warfare planes, refueling and helicopters. The United States can use them to carry out airstrikes deep in Iran, without relying on vulnerable air force bases in other countries.

• 13 destroyers: Ships with several purposes, which can perform defensive and offensive missions. The aircraft carriers in the region are surrounded by several destroyers each, which, thanks to advanced radar and intercept systems, provide them with a defensive envelope. In addition, Marom emphasizes that each destroyer is equipped with dozens of Tomahawk missiles that are capable of attacking at a range of up to 2,000 kilometers with precision and great lethality, and a helicopter that can assist in naval warfare. Marom estimates that the destroyer in the Red Sea is designed to protect Israel from missiles that will be launched by The Houthis from Yemen, the two destroyers in the Mediterranean Sea intended to protect Israel from missiles from Iran and the Ford aircraft carrier, and the destroyers in the Arabian Sea and the Persian Gulf were intended to carry out operations against Iran if necessary and protect the Lincoln aircraft carrier.

• 3 battleships (LCS): According to a report in the New York Times, the US has 3 warships in the Arabian Sea. These are relatively small and very fast ships designed for sea battles at ranges close to the coast. They are mainly equipped with combat capabilities against other ships.

• Nuclear submarine: According to US reports, there is apparently also a nuclear submarine in the area. Marom explains that such a submarine is actually a large, deadly and secret missile depot, which can carry more than 200 Tomahawk missiles. The great advantage of the submarine is its secrecy.

• Fighter planes: In recent weeks, the United States has flown dozens of fighter jets to bases in Jordan and Saudi Arabia, alongside the planes on the Ford and Lincoln aircraft carriers. The planes in the area are among the most advanced models in the world – F18, F22 and F35. These fighter jets can fly stealthily without being detected for long distances, and bomb almost any target in Iran. Many refueling planes have also arrived in the area, and can assist the fighter planes.
• F35: The newest and most advanced fighter plane in the world, which can perform several types of missions. It has a range of about 1,200 kilometers in combat, a top speed of about 2,000 km/h, and very high stealth and maneuverability. It has advanced detection capabilities for aerial threats, and is capable of carrying a wide variety of missiles and bombs with a total weight of more than 8,000 kilograms, and operating against several enemy targets at the same time.

• F22: A fighter jet older than the F35, first built during the Cold War to ensure American control of the skies. It is a very fast plane with extremely high stealth capabilities, and is mainly intended to “clear” the sky of enemy planes, and less to attack targets on the ground. Also, this is a very expensive plane, with a cost of about 143 million dollars per unit.
• F18: An older aircraft that entered service in the 1980s and was the flagship aircraft of the USA, with a rich history of wars, including in the Middle East. It is a cheaper aircraft and has a slightly lower range and combat capabilities than the F35, and is less effective against targets on the ground, but it is still an aircraft that can be useful against targets in Iran, and is especially adapted to carry out sorties from aircraft carriers.

• Strategic bombers: Last June, the United States attacked Iran’s nuclear facilities using B-2 strategic bombers. This is a stealth bomber that is only in the possession of the United States, which can leave the United States and fly directly to Iran. It carries a MOP bomb weighing about 14 tons, which dives to a depth of about 60 meters to the position until it explodes – and is therefore particularly effective against well-fortified targets, such as Iran’s nuclear facilities. The US Air Force base in Diego Garcia is also a possible point from which these bombers could depart, and analysis of satellite images from the base indicates increased activity in it.
• Dozens of C17 and C5 planes: Alongside the fighter planes, dozens of large American transport planes of the type C17 and C5 have arrived at US bases in the area in recent weeks. These aircraft can carry the troops, logistics and armaments required for a prolonged campaign that the US may wage.

• Intelligence, spying and control planes: The United States has flown many more aircraft into the region, including U2 spy planes that can gather intelligence from high altitudes, and an E-3 air control and control plane designed to locate threats from the air and help control the battlefield.

  Air defense: Along with the powerful attack tools, the US has placed additional air defense systems in the area in recent weeks, of the Patriot and THAAD types. These are systems that are capable of intercepting missiles that Iran will launch towards American assets in the area, and also towards Israel.