F-35A Lightning II stealth fighters from the Vermont Air National Guard (VANG) are steadily moving closer to potential deployments in the Middle East, signaling a continued buildup of U.S. airpower in the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) region amid rising tensions with Iran.
The repositioning of a dozen fifth-generation fighters follows a series of complex transatlantic movements and comes as Washington increases its military footprint across the region in preparation for a possible escalation should diplomatic efforts with Tehran collapse.
Six F-35As that had been temporarily grounded at Naval Air Station Rota in Spain moved on to Morón Air Base earlier today. Their onward journey had been delayed after a KC-46A Pegasus aerial refueling tanker suffered a mishap at Morón, complicating support operations for the stealth fighters.
The jets had originally been diverted to Rota after the tanker incident prevented them from landing at Morón as planned. Before that, they staged through Lajes Field in Portugal, flying directly across the Atlantic from the Caribbean. Initial reporting suggested the aircraft might be destined for Jordan, though it remains unclear if or when they will ultimately proceed into the CENTCOM area of responsibility.
Aviation photographer Ethan Ferro, who operates the FerittoAviation Instagram account, captured images of several of the F-35As as they arrived at Morón, offering visual confirmation of their presence at the Spanish base.
Meanwhile, another six Vermont-based F-35As arrived at RAF Lakenheath in the United Kingdom at approximately 8 p.m. local time (3 p.m. Eastern). According to aviation photographer David Lloyd, who shared images of the jets, these aircraft returned briefly to Vermont from the Caribbean before undertaking their transatlantic flight to Europe.
RAF Lakenheath, home to U.S. Air Force F-35As permanently stationed in the U.K., serves as a critical transit hub for American aircraft deploying to the Middle East. Air & Space Forces Magazine was first to report the VANG jets’ arrival in Britain.
All 12 of the Vermont F-35As had recently been deployed to the Caribbean, where they participated in a high-profile mission to capture Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. That operation demonstrated the aircraft’s long-range deployment capability and the Air National Guard’s expanding role in expeditionary operations.
Now, the same aircraft appear to be part of a broader force flow into the CENTCOM theater, where U.S. military assets are accumulating at an accelerating pace.
If all 12 F-35As ultimately deploy to the Middle East, they would join a diverse mix of tactical aviation assets already operating from regional bases and at sea.
At Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan, detachments from at least three F-15E Strike Eagle squadrons are now operating, including one unit that recently arrived. The F-15Es are optimized for both strike and air superiority missions and are particularly well-suited to defending against incoming Iranian missiles and drones.
Also in Jordan are A-10 Thunderbolt II close air support aircraft and EA-18G Growler electronic warfare jets. The latter provide critical jamming and suppression of enemy air defense (SEAD) capabilities—essential in any high-intensity conflict scenario involving Iran’s layered air defense network.
At sea, the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln has entered the CENTCOM region after transiting from the South China Sea. Embarked aboard are F-35C stealth fighters, F/A-18E/F Super Hornets, and additional EA-18G Growlers. This carrier air wing significantly boosts both strike capacity and defensive coverage against missile and drone threats.
Beyond tactical fighters, more than 100 cargo aircraft sorties have reportedly delivered air defense systems and other support assets to bases across the Middle East in recent weeks. These include Patriot and potentially Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) systems intended to bolster protection for U.S. installations and partner nations.
Despite the growing presence of tactical aircraft, there has been no confirmed movement of strategic bombers into the region.
In past periods of heightened tension with Iran, the United States has forward-deployed B-2 Spirit stealth bombers and B-52 Stratofortresses to Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean. These platforms provide long-range strike options capable of penetrating hardened targets, including underground nuclear facilities.
During last June’s Operation Midnight Hammer, which targeted Iranian nuclear sites, B-2 bombers flew round-trip missions directly from the continental United States, demonstrating the Air Force’s global reach without reliance on forward basing.
The absence—so far—of bombers in the current buildup may reflect either operational security considerations or a political signal that Washington is still prioritizing diplomatic avenues.
President Donald Trump told Axios earlier this week that he is considering dispatching a second aircraft carrier strike group to the Middle East if negotiations with Iran fail.
“We have an armada that is heading there and another one might be going,” Trump said, adding that he is “thinking” about sending an additional carrier strike group.
A U.S. official confirmed that discussions are underway regarding the possible deployment.
However, available options are limited. The USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group remains in the Caribbean following the Maduro operation, while other carrier groups are in varying states of maintenance, training, or readiness.
Adding another carrier would increase both offensive and defensive capabilities, but even then, analysts note that current force levels remain insufficient for a sustained, large-scale air campaign against Iran.
Despite the influx of assets, U.S. force posture in the region still appears calibrated more toward deterrence and defensive contingency planning than full-scale offensive operations.
A single carrier strike group, several dozen F-15Es, A-10s, and a dozen F-35As would bolster regional defenses and enable limited precision strikes. However, a major sustained kinetic campaign would likely require significantly more tactical aircraft, tankers, ISR (intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance) platforms, and logistical support.
Israel’s air force could play a decisive complementary role. The Israeli Air Force (IAF), equipped with F-35I “Adir” stealth fighters and advanced strike capabilities, could operate alongside U.S. assets in coordinated operations targeting Iranian facilities or regional proxies.
Still, the comparatively modest number of U.S. fighters currently in theater has raised questions about the Pentagon’s overall strategy.
The military buildup comes against the backdrop of fragile diplomatic efforts between Washington and Tehran.
President Trump initially threatened military action in response to Iran’s crackdown on anti-regime protesters, which reportedly resulted in thousands of deaths. In recent weeks, however, he has shifted emphasis toward securing a negotiated settlement focused on preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
Following inconclusive talks in Oman, Trump indicated he might accept a narrower agreement centered solely on ensuring “no nuclear weapons.”
Israel, by contrast, has pressed for a more comprehensive deal. According to CNN, Israeli officials want any agreement to include the elimination of Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile, a complete halt to enrichment, restrictions on ballistic missile development, and an end to Tehran’s support for regional proxy groups.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is traveling to Washington for talks with Trump. Before departing aboard the Wing of Zion, Israel’s equivalent of Air Force One, Netanyahu emphasized that Iran would be the top agenda item.
“I will present the president with our views regarding the essential principles of the negotiations,” Netanyahu said. “Principles that, in our eyes, are vital not only for Israel but for anyone in the world who desires peace and security in the Middle East.”
Iranian officials have long insisted they will not abandon their nuclear program or ballistic missile capabilities. However, there are signs of potential flexibility.
Iran’s atomic energy chief, Mohammad Eslami, stated that Tehran might consider diluting its stockpile of uranium enriched to 60 percent—close to weapons-grade—if all U.S. sanctions are lifted.
The comment was seen as a signal that negotiations remain possible, though conditional.
At the same time, Iranian figures have issued stark warnings. Mohammad-Javad Larijani, a former senior adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, warned that any U.S. military strike would trigger a harsh response.
“In response to a potential act of aggression, we are not looking to respond tit for tat,” Larijani said. “Our posture would move from defensive to offensive, striking points where we believe we must hit the roots of that force’s presence in the region.”
Such rhetoric echoes previous Iranian threats against U.S. bases and Israel, particularly in Iraq, Syria, and the Gulf states.
Amid escalating rhetoric, both nations appear to be hardening key facilities.
Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar—the largest U.S. installation in the region—is reportedly increasing its security posture. Iran, meanwhile, has covered entrances to nuclear facilities at Isfahan with soil, likely to protect against potential air or ground assaults.
Isfahan was one of three sites targeted during Operation Midnight Hammer. Even before that strike, satellite imagery suggested Iran had taken measures to shield certain facilities against commando raids or bunker-busting munitions.
The incremental movement of Vermont Air National Guard F-35As toward the Middle East underscores the seriousness of the current moment. These stealth fighters provide advanced sensor fusion, survivability, and strike capability that would be essential in the opening phases of any conflict with Iran’s integrated air defenses.
Yet their numbers remain relatively small, suggesting a posture aimed at deterrence and rapid-response flexibility rather than imminent large-scale war.
As more U.S. assets flow into the region and diplomatic talks continue, the situation remains fluid. The coming days—particularly the outcome of Netanyahu’s meetings in Washington and any further signals from Tehran—could determine whether the current buildup remains a show of force or evolves into something far more consequential.
For now, the F-35As from Vermont sit poised in Europe, one step closer to the Middle East, at the intersection of diplomacy and potential conflict.
