U.S. Moves Patriot Defenses to Middle East with Dozens of C-17 Flights

The U.S. military shifted a Patriot battalion from the Indo-Pacific to the Middle East, requiring at least 73 flights, according to one commander.

Why it matters:
The air defenses are a high-profile resource, capable of intercepting missiles and aircraft. They arrive at a volatile moment.

Further, the number of C-17 flights conducted underscores just how stressful materiel moves can be. The Boeing-made aircraft can transport hefty equipment, like tanks.

Context:
Indo-Pacific Command boss Adm. Samuel Paparo disclosed the details in a congressional hearing Thursday. He was accompanied by Gen. Xavier Brunson, the commander of U.S. Forces Korea.

Paparo told senators U.S. “lift requirements must be paid attention to.” Sustainment, he added, “won World War II.”

What they’re saying:
“The airlift is essential to protect key U.S. bases and partners in the Middle East, which otherwise are much more vulnerable than Israel to Iran’s shorter-range missiles,” Jonathan Ruhe, director of foreign policy at the Jewish Institute for National Security of America, told Axios.

“In this way, it also bolsters U.S. leverage in upcoming talks with Tehran.”

Zoom out:
The move comes amid a buildup across U.S. Central Command.

The Carl Vinson aircraft carrier joined the Harry S. Truman in the region. The command on Thursday shared footage of aircraft launching from the decks.

Satellite images show a handful of B-2 bombers dispatched to Diego Garcia, an island in the Indian Ocean. Hans Kristensen at the Federation of American Scientists described the grouping as “unusually large.”

Meanwhile, airstrikes in Yemen have killed dozens of people, including Houthi drone experts. An initial wave in March hit 30-plus targets, according to the Pentagon.

Originally published in Axios.