U.S. sends 18 more F-35A fighter jets from UK to Middle East as Iran nuclear talks begin
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The United States deployed 18 additional F-35A fighter jets from RAF Lakenheath in the United Kingdom to the Middle East, which coincided with the start of indirect US–Iran nuclear talks in Geneva.
On February 16, 2026, DefenceGeek reported that the United States deployed 18 additional F-35A fighter jets from RAF Lakenheath in the United Kingdom to the Middle East, which coincided with the start of indirect US–Iran nuclear talks in Geneva. The F-35s, supported by KC-135 aerial refueling aircraft, are assessed to be operating from Jordan, increasing the F-35 presence near Iran to around 30 jets in Jordan, as well as carrier-based F-35C fighters and land-based F-15E squadrons under US Central Command.Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
The destination was assessed as Jordan, with Muwaffaq Salti Air Base identified as the likely operating location, where the potential order of battle could reach 30 F-35As, combining 18 from Lakenheath and 12 from a Vermont Air National Guard detachment. (Picture source: U.S. Air Force)
By deploying 18 additional U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II fighter jets from RAF Lakenheath in the United Kingdom toward the Middle East, the U.S. continues to reinforce earlier F-35 buildups that already included fighters operating from regional bases and F-35C fighters embarked on the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier in the Arabian Sea. The movement was supported by multiple KC-135R and KC-135T Stratotankers from RAF Mildenhall and additional tankers from the U.S., with several aircraft routing to Chania Airport in Greece after refueling operations and one KC-135R recovering to Ramstein Air Base. The 18 F-35As used VALKYRIE01 through VALKYRIE09 and GREEN01 through GREEN09 callsigns, while two additional F-35As acted as air spares before returning to Lakenheath.
The destination was assessed as Jordan, with Muwaffaq Salti Air Base identified as the likely operating location, where the potential order of battle could reach 30 F-35As, combining 18 from Lakenheath and 12 from a Vermont Air National Guard detachment. On February 17, 2026, indirect nuclear talks between the United States and Iran began in Geneva at the Omani mission, with U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner meeting Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi through mediation. Iran stated that the agenda would focus on its nuclear program and the potential lifting of U.S. economic sanctions, while Washington indicated it also sought to address Iran’s ballistic missile program and regional armed group support.
U.S. President Donald Trump said he preferred a diplomatic resolution but reiterated that a military option remained available if negotiations failed, referencing earlier U.S. strikes that involved B-2 bombers and GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator bombs against Iranian nuclear sites. Iranian officials stated that submission before threats was not on the table and that any agreement must be fair and equitable, while signaling that the U.S. position had moved toward what they considered a more realistic stance. The timing of the talks coincided directly with the arrival of the 18 additional F-35As in the region, placing the diplomatic process within a visibly expanded U.S. force posture.
Since January 26, 2026, the United States has increased its military presence across the Middle East under U.S. Central Command, citing deterrence of instability linked to the 2025–2026 Iranian protests and readiness for contingency operations. The USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group deployed with guided-missile destroyers USS Frank E. Petersen Jr., USS Michael Murphy, and USS Spruance, alongside embarked F/A-18E Super Hornets, EA-18G Growlers, E-2 Hawkeyes, MH-60S and MH-60R helicopters, and F-35C Lightning II fighters. Additional destroyers, including USS McFaul and USS Mitscher, operated in the Strait of Hormuz, while other U.S. vessels were present in the Red Sea and Mediterranean. The USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group was also sent toward the region, expanding carrier-based aviation and strike capacity.
Destroyers in these formations can launch Tomahawk cruise missiles with ranges of 1,000 miles and 1,000-pound conventional warheads, and carrier strike groups typically operate with attack submarines capable of similar launches. Land-based airpower has been reinforced through the deployment of three F-15E Strike Eagle squadrons from RAF Lakenheath, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, and Mountain Home Air Force Base, alongside F-16 Fighting Falcons from Aviano Air Base and A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft from Moody Air Force Base. An expeditionary fighter squadron generally consists of 12 aircraft, and the presence in Jordan was assessed at 24 F-15Es, 6 EA-18G Growlers, and 12 A-10Cs in addition to the F-35As. The tanker support for the February 16 movement included KC-135 aircraft using LAGER10 tail 59-1464, LAGER11 tail 59-1475, LAGER12 tail 57-2605, LAGER13 tail 59-1470, LAGER14 tail 62-3540, LAGER15 tail 61-0315, and LAGER17 tail 63-8008, as well as KC-135R aircraft RCH465 tail 64-14832 and RCH128 tail 59-1478 departing directly from the continental United States without receivers.
More than 100 C-17 Globemaster III and C-5 Galaxy flights have transported equipment to the region, and additional Patriot and THAAD missile defense systems have been deployed. HH-60W Jolly Green II search-and-rescue helicopters have also been introduced into the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. Operational incidents have occurred during the buildup. On February 3, 2026, a U.S. F-35 shot down an Iranian Shahed-139 drone approaching the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Arabian Sea. On the same day, six Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy gunboats attempted to stop and seize a U.S.-flagged tanker in the Strait of Hormuz before the vessel continued under escort by USS McFaul. Iran also seized two foreign oil tankers near Farsi Island and transferred them to Bushehr, alleging involvement in fuel smuggling.
In a prior engagement known as Operation Midnight Hammer, U.S. Air Force F-35As and F-15Es were used to suppress Iranian air defenses and escort seven B-2 Spirit bombers that dropped 14 GBU-57 bombs against three nuclear facilities, while submarine-launched Tomahawk missiles were also employed. F-15Es have previously used AIM-9 Sidewinder and AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles against drones and have carried APKWS laser-guided rockets in regional operations. The latest 18 F-35As included tail numbers such as 20-5570, 20-5618, 19-5487, 19-5473, 20-5475, 19-5484, 19-5476, 19-5495, 20-5608, 20-5589, 20-5581, 20-5615, 20-5571, 20-5600, 20-5605, 20-5590, and 20-5597, while the two additional spare F-35As carried the tail numbers 19-5486 and 20-5582. Iran has responded militarily by conducting naval drills in the Strait of Hormuz on February 16 and deploying its Khorramshahr-4 long-range ballistic missile at an underground facility, with a reported range exceeding 1,240 miles and a 3,300-pound warhead.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei stated that weapons capable of sending an aircraft carrier to the bottom were more dangerous than the carrier itself, and senior commanders, including Maj. Gen. Abdolrahim Mousavi and Maj. Gen. Mohammad Pakpour warned that Iran was prepared to retaliate decisively against U.S. forces and regional allies. The IRGC Central Khatam Al Anbia Command warned that countries supporting a U.S. strike would face consequences. Additionally, Iran reportedly deployed Chinese YLC-8B UHF-band 3D long-range anti-stealth radar systems, prepared for a potential ten-year war with the US through the voting of a 200 percent military budget increase, and accelerated repairs at missile sites while limiting visible repairs at nuclear facilities.
Diplomatically, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signaled willingness to pursue fair negotiations without threats, and Ali Larijani was authorized to engage in structured discussions. Abbas Araghchi stated that Iran sought a fair and equitable agreement and rejected submission under pressure, while Ali Shamkhani indicated that Iran could limit uranium enrichment to 20 percent. Iran warned that any U.S. attack would trigger retaliation against American forces and partners, and it labeled European militaries as terrorists after the European Union designated the IRGC as a terrorist organization.
Russia urged a diplomatic solution and offered to process enriched uranium, China warned that conflict would destabilize the region, and Gulf states, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, called for restraint while opposing military operations from their territory. If negotiations fail and a military option is selected by Donald Trump, the existing U.S. military buildup in the Middle East, consisting of two carrier strike groups, land-based F-35A and F-15E aircraft, Tomahawk-capable vessels, and sustained tanker and airlift support, would provide multiple strike pathways. Initial target sets could include missile infrastructure, air defense systems, IRGC command facilities, Iran Navy’s vessels, and remaining nuclear-related sites, potentially coordinated with Israeli F-35I Adirs if joint action is pursued.
Iran’s likely responses could involve ballistic missile launches against U.S. bases such as Al Udeid, maritime disruption in the Strait of Hormuz affecting commercial shipping, and actions by aligned non-state actors, including Hezbollah or the Houthis. Given the density of forces already forward deployed, any initial strike phase would likely be followed by counter-strikes, air defense engagements, and maritime security operations, increasing the risk of a multi-domain escalation that extends beyond a single exchange, like in the past, and directly impacts regional stability and global energy markets.
Written by Jérôme Brahy
Jérôme Brahy is a defense analyst and documentalist at Army Recognition. He specializes in naval modernization, aviation, drones, armored vehicles, and artillery, with a focus on strategic developments in the United States, China, Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye, and Belgium. His analyses go beyond the facts, providing context, identifying key actors, and explaining why defense news matters on a global scale.
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The United States deployed 18 additional F-35A fighter jets from RAF Lakenheath in the United Kingdom to the Middle East, which coincided with the start of indirect US–Iran nuclear talks in Geneva.
On February 16, 2026, DefenceGeek reported that the United States deployed 18 additional F-35A fighter jets from RAF Lakenheath in the United Kingdom to the Middle East, which coincided with the start of indirect US–Iran nuclear talks in Geneva. The F-35s, supported by KC-135 aerial refueling aircraft, are assessed to be operating from Jordan, increasing the F-35 presence near Iran to around 30 jets in Jordan, as well as carrier-based F-35C fighters and land-based F-15E squadrons under US Central Command.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
The destination was assessed as Jordan, with Muwaffaq Salti Air Base identified as the likely operating location, where the potential order of battle could reach 30 F-35As, combining 18 from Lakenheath and 12 from a Vermont Air National Guard detachment. (Picture source: U.S. Air Force)
By deploying 18 additional U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II fighter jets from RAF Lakenheath in the United Kingdom toward the Middle East, the U.S. continues to reinforce earlier F-35 buildups that already included fighters operating from regional bases and F-35C fighters embarked on the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier in the Arabian Sea. The movement was supported by multiple KC-135R and KC-135T Stratotankers from RAF Mildenhall and additional tankers from the U.S., with several aircraft routing to Chania Airport in Greece after refueling operations and one KC-135R recovering to Ramstein Air Base. The 18 F-35As used VALKYRIE01 through VALKYRIE09 and GREEN01 through GREEN09 callsigns, while two additional F-35As acted as air spares before returning to Lakenheath.
The destination was assessed as Jordan, with Muwaffaq Salti Air Base identified as the likely operating location, where the potential order of battle could reach 30 F-35As, combining 18 from Lakenheath and 12 from a Vermont Air National Guard detachment. On February 17, 2026, indirect nuclear talks between the United States and Iran began in Geneva at the Omani mission, with U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner meeting Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi through mediation. Iran stated that the agenda would focus on its nuclear program and the potential lifting of U.S. economic sanctions, while Washington indicated it also sought to address Iran’s ballistic missile program and regional armed group support.
U.S. President Donald Trump said he preferred a diplomatic resolution but reiterated that a military option remained available if negotiations failed, referencing earlier U.S. strikes that involved B-2 bombers and GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator bombs against Iranian nuclear sites. Iranian officials stated that submission before threats was not on the table and that any agreement must be fair and equitable, while signaling that the U.S. position had moved toward what they considered a more realistic stance. The timing of the talks coincided directly with the arrival of the 18 additional F-35As in the region, placing the diplomatic process within a visibly expanded U.S. force posture.
Since January 26, 2026, the United States has increased its military presence across the Middle East under U.S. Central Command, citing deterrence of instability linked to the 2025–2026 Iranian protests and readiness for contingency operations. The USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group deployed with guided-missile destroyers USS Frank E. Petersen Jr., USS Michael Murphy, and USS Spruance, alongside embarked F/A-18E Super Hornets, EA-18G Growlers, E-2 Hawkeyes, MH-60S and MH-60R helicopters, and F-35C Lightning II fighters. Additional destroyers, including USS McFaul and USS Mitscher, operated in the Strait of Hormuz, while other U.S. vessels were present in the Red Sea and Mediterranean. The USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group was also sent toward the region, expanding carrier-based aviation and strike capacity.
Destroyers in these formations can launch Tomahawk cruise missiles with ranges of 1,000 miles and 1,000-pound conventional warheads, and carrier strike groups typically operate with attack submarines capable of similar launches. Land-based airpower has been reinforced through the deployment of three F-15E Strike Eagle squadrons from RAF Lakenheath, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, and Mountain Home Air Force Base, alongside F-16 Fighting Falcons from Aviano Air Base and A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft from Moody Air Force Base. An expeditionary fighter squadron generally consists of 12 aircraft, and the presence in Jordan was assessed at 24 F-15Es, 6 EA-18G Growlers, and 12 A-10Cs in addition to the F-35As. The tanker support for the February 16 movement included KC-135 aircraft using LAGER10 tail 59-1464, LAGER11 tail 59-1475, LAGER12 tail 57-2605, LAGER13 tail 59-1470, LAGER14 tail 62-3540, LAGER15 tail 61-0315, and LAGER17 tail 63-8008, as well as KC-135R aircraft RCH465 tail 64-14832 and RCH128 tail 59-1478 departing directly from the continental United States without receivers.
More than 100 C-17 Globemaster III and C-5 Galaxy flights have transported equipment to the region, and additional Patriot and THAAD missile defense systems have been deployed. HH-60W Jolly Green II search-and-rescue helicopters have also been introduced into the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. Operational incidents have occurred during the buildup. On February 3, 2026, a U.S. F-35 shot down an Iranian Shahed-139 drone approaching the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Arabian Sea. On the same day, six Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy gunboats attempted to stop and seize a U.S.-flagged tanker in the Strait of Hormuz before the vessel continued under escort by USS McFaul. Iran also seized two foreign oil tankers near Farsi Island and transferred them to Bushehr, alleging involvement in fuel smuggling.
In a prior engagement known as Operation Midnight Hammer, U.S. Air Force F-35As and F-15Es were used to suppress Iranian air defenses and escort seven B-2 Spirit bombers that dropped 14 GBU-57 bombs against three nuclear facilities, while submarine-launched Tomahawk missiles were also employed. F-15Es have previously used AIM-9 Sidewinder and AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles against drones and have carried APKWS laser-guided rockets in regional operations. The latest 18 F-35As included tail numbers such as 20-5570, 20-5618, 19-5487, 19-5473, 20-5475, 19-5484, 19-5476, 19-5495, 20-5608, 20-5589, 20-5581, 20-5615, 20-5571, 20-5600, 20-5605, 20-5590, and 20-5597, while the two additional spare F-35As carried the tail numbers 19-5486 and 20-5582. Iran has responded militarily by conducting naval drills in the Strait of Hormuz on February 16 and deploying its Khorramshahr-4 long-range ballistic missile at an underground facility, with a reported range exceeding 1,240 miles and a 3,300-pound warhead.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei stated that weapons capable of sending an aircraft carrier to the bottom were more dangerous than the carrier itself, and senior commanders, including Maj. Gen. Abdolrahim Mousavi and Maj. Gen. Mohammad Pakpour warned that Iran was prepared to retaliate decisively against U.S. forces and regional allies. The IRGC Central Khatam Al Anbia Command warned that countries supporting a U.S. strike would face consequences. Additionally, Iran reportedly deployed Chinese YLC-8B UHF-band 3D long-range anti-stealth radar systems, prepared for a potential ten-year war with the US through the voting of a 200 percent military budget increase, and accelerated repairs at missile sites while limiting visible repairs at nuclear facilities.
Diplomatically, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signaled willingness to pursue fair negotiations without threats, and Ali Larijani was authorized to engage in structured discussions. Abbas Araghchi stated that Iran sought a fair and equitable agreement and rejected submission under pressure, while Ali Shamkhani indicated that Iran could limit uranium enrichment to 20 percent. Iran warned that any U.S. attack would trigger retaliation against American forces and partners, and it labeled European militaries as terrorists after the European Union designated the IRGC as a terrorist organization.
Russia urged a diplomatic solution and offered to process enriched uranium, China warned that conflict would destabilize the region, and Gulf states, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, called for restraint while opposing military operations from their territory. If negotiations fail and a military option is selected by Donald Trump, the existing U.S. military buildup in the Middle East, consisting of two carrier strike groups, land-based F-35A and F-15E aircraft, Tomahawk-capable vessels, and sustained tanker and airlift support, would provide multiple strike pathways. Initial target sets could include missile infrastructure, air defense systems, IRGC command facilities, Iran Navy’s vessels, and remaining nuclear-related sites, potentially coordinated with Israeli F-35I Adirs if joint action is pursued.
Iran’s likely responses could involve ballistic missile launches against U.S. bases such as Al Udeid, maritime disruption in the Strait of Hormuz affecting commercial shipping, and actions by aligned non-state actors, including Hezbollah or the Houthis. Given the density of forces already forward deployed, any initial strike phase would likely be followed by counter-strikes, air defense engagements, and maritime security operations, increasing the risk of a multi-domain escalation that extends beyond a single exchange, like in the past, and directly impacts regional stability and global energy markets.
Written by Jérôme Brahy
Jérôme Brahy is a defense analyst and documentalist at Army Recognition. He specializes in naval modernization, aviation, drones, armored vehicles, and artillery, with a focus on strategic developments in the United States, China, Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye, and Belgium. His analyses go beyond the facts, providing context, identifying key actors, and explaining why defense news matters on a global scale.
