Posted on 02/23/2026 8:53:19 AM PST by DFG
In recent hours, multiple USAF C-17 Globemaster III aircraft have been shuttling between the Gulf, Souda Bay, Sofia and Ramstein Air Base, highlighting the scale of the logistical effort behind the ongoing American military buildup toward the Middle East. These heavy transports, some departing directly from the Gulf and others repositioning from Eastern Europe, are now forming a continuous bridge with Germany. The operation underscores how sustainment — not just combat aircraft — is shaping the strategic picture.
The flights tracked today include several C-17s rotating northbound toward Ramstein, which is once again acting as the primary European hub for onward distribution. Aircraft previously surged into Gulf bases and forward locations are now being supported by a constant flow of airlift traffic.
This is not routine traffic.
Heavy airlift as the backbone of deployment
Strategic airlift is what turns a deployment into a sustained operation. Fighter jets, ISR platforms and tankers can deploy quickly, but keeping them operational requires a steady stream of spare parts, munitions, ground crews and specialized equipment.
The C-17 activity observed between the Gulf, Souda Bay in Crete and Sofia suggests a redistribution and reinforcement cycle is underway. Ramstein’s role is central: it functions as the logistical nerve center for U.S. Air Forces in Europe and often becomes the main sorting hub when operations expand toward the Middle East.
The fact that some aircraft are effectively “doing the shuttle” between Germany and forward bases indicates that the initial surge phase may now be transitioning into a sustainment phase. That shift matters strategically.
(Excerpt) Read more at itamilradar.com ...
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The reason Obama would draw a red line in the sand, and nobody paid any attention to him was he wasn’t prepared to spend the money to make the threat “real.” If the president claims he’s going to take military action and doesn’t spend the millions necessary to put the logistics into place to make the threat credible, the world shrugs and moves on.
Frankly, I hope Trump removes the current Iranian regime. They’ve been financing a huge percentage of the Jihadi attacks worldwide. Take Iran out of the financing role and the world will be a calmer, safer place for decades to come.
Loadin’ up on the schnitzel.
Anyone know why the aircraft appear to avoid Israeli airspace?
It looks like a Two-fer. Once Iran is dealt with, the assets in Europe will be sent home or remain in the Persian Gulf.
Bye, NATO.
Isn’t the above map supposed to include “Top Secret. Not For Release. Make sure the enemy doesn’t see this stuff.”?
And pilot-recovery helos.
It’s deliberately been shown as a negotiating tool with Iran.
Same with another carrier group headed for an operational area to attack Iran.
Once you get the other side to think time is running out, you have an advantage.
They usually do this because no blow back, hopefully no missiles aimed at Israel.
Not positive but this isn’t the first time the uS has done this
They’re also apparently avoiding Syrian airspace.
There’s a reason Gd made the unlikely return of DJT happen and also reasons why the FoL (Father of Lies) had the Mullahs and IRGC surge their terror and abject evil across Persia lately, IMHO. When they are purged in fire or otherwise, their offspring across the world will scream like lost Orcs after Ring Day at the Crack of Doom.
“Isn’t the above map supposed to include “Top Secret. Not For Release. Make sure the enemy doesn’t see this stuff.”?”
Yes. Only people who have the internet should have access to this highly classified information.
https://www.flightradar24.com/TOPCT35/3e752a59
Captured German officers post surrender while highly complimentary of American Soldiers and some officers (Patton et al) were unanimous and adamant that it was factory workers back in the US and an amazing logistics ability that defeated them in WWII. This looks like a repeat.
Supposed to frighten the theocrats in charge in Iran and make them compromise or leave the country with their pallets of gold bars.
As someone who looks at Flightradar24 on a regular basis (filtered by government aircraft only), I’m not convinced this is all that unusual. There are always heavy lift aircraft flying from the U.S. and around Europe and the middle east. Unfortunately I don’t count them and I’m not counting them now. Perspective is everything. You can take one look at a particular time and say, “oh my God, look at that”, not knowing that’s how it looks all the time. On the other side of this, they’re not showing any C5s, and there are a few of those flying, too.
Captured German officers post surrender while highly complimentary of American Soldiers and some officers (Patton et al) were unanimous and adamant that it was factory workers back in the US and an amazing logistics ability that defeated them in WWII. This looks like a repeat.
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Once we got spun up we built stuff faster that the Axis could destroy it.
Logistics.
And…if not now…when? The regime is quite possibly weaker than ever. Do we really want to take the chance of another neo-Communist president helping them rebuild? Even a ‘dirty’ ballistic missile into Tel Aviv could be a catastrophe.
This is really idiotic, imo. May it fail spectacularly. May it be so!
I agree. May the mullah theoracy fail spectacularly! It shall be a glorious triumph for the people of Iran.
To quote Thomas Paine:
"Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered. Yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict the more glorious the triumph."
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