The U.S. military is ramping up its operational posture in the Middle East, launching a multi-day aerial readiness exercise designed to test rapid deployment and dispersed combat operations. The move comes amid growing tensions with Iran and the arrival of a U.S. aircraft carrier strike group in the region.

U.S. Central Command’s air component, the Ninth Air Force, also known as Air Forces Central (AFCENT), said the drill will demonstrate the ability to “deploy, disperse, and sustain combat airpower across the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility.”

The exercise is aimed at validating U.S. capabilities to operate from multiple locations with a lighter footprint — a key requirement for any conflict scenario in which fixed bases could be vulnerable to missile or drone attacks.

“This exercise is designed to enhance asset and personnel dispersal capability, strengthen regional partnerships and prepare for flexible response execution throughout CENTCOM,” AFCENT said in a statement. The drill will test “rapid movement of personnel and aircraft; dispersed operations at contingency locations; logistics sustainment with a minimal footprint; and integrated, multi-national command and control over a large area of operations.”

During the exercise, U.S. forces will deploy teams to multiple contingency sites and rehearse rapid setup, launch and recovery procedures using small support packages, a model tailored to modern high-threat environments.

AFCENT said all activities will be conducted with host-nation approval and in coordination with civil and military aviation authorities, emphasizing safety and sovereignty.

The launch of the exercise comes one day after CENTCOM announced that the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier and its accompanying warships had arrived in the Middle East, significantly boosting U.S. strike and air defense capabilities in the region.

The enhanced U.S. military posture gives President Donald Trump expanded operational flexibility, including the ability to rapidly project power or conduct strikes on Iran.

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