US Air Force prepares Middle East exercises amid rising Iran tensions and force buildup
January 28, 2026
The USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group has now arrived in the Middle East, and the United States is readying a new round of large-scale military exercises across the region, sharpening the focus on Washington’s growing military posture amid escalating tensions with Iran.
With the carrier now in theatre, the US Air Force is preparing to launch its Agile Spartan readiness exercises, a multi-day drill designed to demonstrate the ability to rapidly deploy, disperse, and sustain combat airpower across the US Central Command area of responsibility. While the exercise is Air Force-led and may not directly involve the carrier, the timing has intensified scrutiny of US intentions in the region.
USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group arrives in Middle East
Yesterday, it was reported that the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) had arrived in the theatre. President Trump has termed the carrier strike group an ‘armada,’ and says it is bigger than the one deployed against Venezuela.
U.S. Air Forces Central will be conducting a multi-day readiness exercise to demonstrate the ability to deploy, disperse, and sustain combat airpower across the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility.
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) January 27, 2026
Read more: https://t.co/F4rRENnVGD pic.twitter.com/ny80gdjuQU
The US CENCOM (Central Command) announced “Ninth Air Force (Air Forces Central) will be conducting a multi-day readiness exercise to demonstrate the ability to deploy, disperse, and sustain combat airpower across the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility.”
This is a US Air Force-led exercise; it is unclear if it will involve the USS Abraham Lincoln. Although the exercises will include “launch and recovery procedures with small, efficient support packages.”
Amid searing tensions with Iran, CENCOM says, “This exercise reinforces peace through strength by fielding a credible, combat-ready, and responsible presence designed to deter aggression, reduce the risk of miscalculation, and assure partners.”
UPDATE: There's definite signs tonight that things might be hotting up, whether it be down to an "exercise" as claimed by the US presently, or final preparations being made now to surge more kit ready for Iran…
— DefenceGeek 🇬🇧 (@DefenceGeek) January 27, 2026
Of note:
– 2x HC-130J "Combat King II" CSAR aircraft on way now
-…
It remains unclear which US assets will take part in the exercise, along with dates and specific locations.
US Air Force Central (AFCENT) told The War Zone that Agile Spartan exercises are “part of its regular exercise schedule and not in response to current tensions.” The War Zone noted that, be as it may, the optics of the timing are hard to ignore.
US Air Force prepares Agile Spartan exercises across CENTCOM region
The carrier is accompanied by three Arleigh Burke destroyers and has nine squadrons of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 9 embarked. The group likely also includes a nuclear-powered attack submarine.
UPDATE: 20260127-1930Z
— DefenceGeek 🇬🇧 (@DefenceGeek) January 27, 2026
An unusual extra evening update today – unusually we have 5x KC-135s from Al-Udeid have flown into Iraq for ops today, and 1 extra tanker en-route from Moron. Slowed pace of C-17s continues
cc: @MATA_osint @ArmchairAdml @BrianE6B @TheIntelFrog @vcdgf555 pic.twitter.com/7SAOLw5aqG
Last week, AGN also reported the buildup of US F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jets from the UK to Jordan. Meanwhile, the build-up of air assets in the region has continued.
Critically, it appears from open-source intelligence that the US is deploying more tankers and air defence systems like Patriot and THAAD to the region.
The RAF has moved Eurofighter Typhoons into the region in a “defensive capacity.” Importantly, it is unclear if Israel will take part in US-led operations should Trump give the go-ahead to strike Iran.
#USAF United States Air Force – Middle East Activity (CORONET)
— Armchair Admiral 🇬🇧 (@ArmchairAdml) January 27, 2026
27 January 2026 – 2000z
Second update for the day. The main focus being CORONET East 037 involving E/A-18G's, as well as HC-130's and additional C-17 flights.
Note: All the information in these posts is obtained via… https://t.co/guILy0ElOX pic.twitter.com/5lg5zJvGeA
OSINT account Armchair Admiral posted, “I very much doubt that the United Kingdom will join offensive action against Iran unless they launch a preemptive strike first. What is almost certain, however, is that the RAF will participate in the defence of Qatar, Jordan and Israel.”
Get the latest aerospace defence news here on AGN.
US options range from deterrence to limited military action
The region is now poised to see if Washington will launch punitive strikes on Iran after the regime cracked down and killed thousands, potentially tens of thousands, of protesters.
US regional allies, the UAE and Saudi Arabia, have reportedly denied the US permission to use their airspace and territory to attack Iran.
For now, Washington’s next move on Iran remains unclear. What is evident, however, is that the United States has been positioning the military assets required both to carry out potential strikes and to defend against any retaliatory response.
But there are more options open to the US to pressure Tehran than purely kinetic. The Jerusalem Post reported that the current situation does not point to an imminent large-scale war.
Instead, the article suggested the US could impose a naval blockade of Iranian oil exports.
Featured Image: US Navy
