Satellite Images Show Five New Stealth F-22s On US Base Near Iran

The Daily Caller ^ | May 21, 2013

[Fennie]

Even if we have often reported the presence of the F-22 Raptors at Al Dhafra, satellite imagery showing five radar evading planes parked at the main airbase in the UAE has been made publicly available for the first time recently.

The aircraft, parked next to an F-15E Strike Eagle, are five of the six F-22 that had (more or less secretely) deployed in South East Asia from Holloman New Mexico, via Moron, Spain, on Apr. 20, 2012.

The image is not only interesting because it shows the main U.S. Air Force plane about 100 miles from Iran, but also because it is the first one to show fast jets on one of the most important U.S. airbases in the region.

[tet68]

because it is the first one to show fast jets on one of the most important U.S. airbases in the region.

They only had slow jets before?

[catfish1957]

Military deployment movement shouldn’t be reported here at FR.

[Tonytitan]

Why not? It’s on the Daily Caller. Why shouldn’t it be on FR?

[InterceptPoint]

[catfish1957]

Probably shouldn’t be on the Daily Caller either, but we have no control over that. Sometimes we forget we are still at war.

[bert]

Take that you anti arab Freepers

The photo is evidence of alliance and friendship

[Jack Hydrazine]

Cardboard cutouts?

[A.A. Cunningham]

Considering it's been known that these birds have been at Al Dhafra since April of 2012, you're a little late to the party.

This is akin to reporting that Valerie Wilson worked for the CIA. Who in DC didn't know that bit of trivia?

[katana]

Lined up nice and pretty. Reminiscent of Hickam Field, Honolulu. No telling, of course, when that satellite shot was taken or whether it even really is Al Dhafra airbase. The release of the photo in the international press is interesting. Maybe an intentional shot over Iran’s bow or a security cock up of the first order.

[InterceptPoint]

Cardboard cutouts?

I report, you decide. ;)

[catfish1957]

Not arguing that point. Just remember that JR set policy post 9-11 around military deployment activity. This activity may have been unclassified, but what’s to stop the next guy. Just sayin’

[McGruff]

Loose lips sink ships.

[bert]

there was a satellite photo....... no loose lips.

[tanknetter]

Military deployment movement shouldn’t be reported here at FR.

The military knows every satellite that's in orbit, and what it's function is. It also knows their orbits and when they'll be overhead of a scene like this.

If the military wanted to keep this a secret, the planes would have been parked under cover when the satellite passed over.

These pictures were intended to be taken, and were intended to be released. It's a major mindf*ck with the Iranians, sending them a clear message that not only can we do things like this whenever we want, we WILL do them whenever we want.

I'd also be willing to bet that the planes were flying interesting mission profiles while there. I bet the Iranians saw some unusual activity on their air defense nets (just like the games we played with the F-117s before Desert Storm). Now they know what was going on ...

[A.A. Cunningham]

Open source information is no secret.

If the zoomies gave a rip abouut OPSEC these birds wouldn't be on a ramp in broad daylight.

[A.A. Cunningham]

about

[catfish1957]

Take it up with the owner......As far as I am concerned we are still at war.

FR Policy on Military Information

[bunkerhill7]

Wide-open Unbunkered is unprotected.

If they can steal 10,000 AR15`s

they can hit an airbase.

[tanknetter]

Take it up with the owner......As far as I am concerned we are still at war.

If you read the policy you cite, it's clearly, unequivocally, referring to things Freepers are seeing with their own eyes at their local military bases.

NOT images from commercial satellites that are published in the press ... nearly two months after they've been taken.

Yeah, if some Freeper living on the departure pattern to Whiteman AFB sees the B-2 fleet doing a MITO, they should keep the news to themselves. But this isn't that ...