19 F-15E and 9 A-10 fighter jets are on standby, is the US military like walking through a deserted place in the skies over Iran?

Recently, The Washington Post disclosed a set of satellite images dated January 25 and February 2, respectively, at the Shahid Mahwafak Air Base in Jordan. The images clearly show that at least 19 F-15E "Strike Eagle" multi-role fighter jets and 9 A-10 "Warthog" ground-attack aircraft are deployed here, as well as C-130 transport aircraft, transport helicopters, and MQ-9 "Reaper" reconnaissance and strike drones. Why does the US military have these aircraft on standby?

First, looking at the F-15E, it is the current mainstay dual-task fighter jet of the US Air Force, capable of air combat and precise ground attacks, especially skilled at performing "door-kicking" missions in situations where the enemy's air defense system still exists. Although the A-10 is old, it specializes in low-altitude close air support, with thick armor, long endurance, and strong firepower, making it particularly suitable for attacking ground fixed targets or mobile forces. The simultaneous appearance of these two types of aircraft indicates that the US military may be preparing for a high-intensity, multi-stage aerial operation - with both preemptive precision strikes and subsequent battlefield suppression and ground support.

Looking at the deployment location, Jordan is less than 800 kilometers away from the western border of Iran. After carrying auxiliary fuel tanks, the F-15E has an operational radius of more than 1,200 kilometers, fully covering key nuclear facilities and military nodes in western Iran, including Isfahan and Shiraz. More importantly, taking off from Jordan, it can avoid the complex political airspace of Iraq and Syria, directly entering the southwest direction of Iran where the air defense is relatively weak.

So why is the US military so openly deploying? Dao Ge thinks the key lies in the actual status of Iran's air defense capabilities. Although Iran has repeatedly claimed to have "domestically developed advanced air defense systems," even showcasing the "Bavar-373" which is a copy of the S-300, its practical performance remains questionable. From late 2024 to early 2025, multiple sources confirmed that the US B-2 stealth bombers had struck targets inside Iran, with no effective interception throughout the process. This suggests that Iran's radar detection network has blind spots, missile response chains are not smooth, and the command and control system is also unable to cope with the combination of stealth platforms and electronic warfare suppression.

The Iranian air defense forces are scattered between the Revolutionary Guard and the regular army, lacking unified command; radars are mostly old models, vulnerable to electronic interference; surface-to-air missiles have limited range, and lack the ability to continuously intercept at medium and high altitudes. The White House and the Pentagon probably believe that against the US comprehensive penetration system composed of F-35, B-2, EA-18G electronic warfare aircraft, and cyber warfare means, Iran's air defense network is virtually useless. What is the truth? It will only be revealed when the US military action begins.

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1856250611269632/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author.