US secret F-22 squadron revealed in Chinese satellite imagery

Chinese commercial satellite imagery shows a fleet of US F-22 fighter jets at an Israeli base, less than 24 hours after the squadron's arrival.

An Arleigh Burke-class destroyer was docked at the pier area of the naval base in Diego Garcia.

MizarVision, a Chinese company, released satellite imagery on 25/2 showing 11 US F-22 stealth fighter jets parked on an apron at Ovda Air Base in southern Israel. This deployment occurred less than 24 hours after Israeli media reported an F-22 squadron had been deployed to the country, without specifying the exact location.

Neither the Pentagon nor the Israel Defense Forces have commented on the deployment. The Times of Israel described this as a "very rare move", as the US typically deploys fighter jets to Israel for joint training rather than for combat operations.

Another image released on the same day showed a Patriot air defense battery near Ovda Air Base. It included a command post, a power generator, support vehicles, and three launchers.

This is likely a US force, as the Israeli military decommissioned its Patriot systems long ago.

Imagery of Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar on 26/2 revealed one KC-135 tanker aircraft, two C-130 transport aircraft, and 7 attack helicopters.

Al Udeid is one of the largest US bases in the Middle East, located approximately 300 km from Iran's southwest coast. The facility was attacked by Iranian ballistic missiles last year, causing some damage.

The number of US aircraft at Al Udeid Air Base has significantly decreased over the past two weeks, apparently in an effort to evacuate assets and personnel in anticipation of potential retaliatory attacks from Iran.

Chinese satellite imagery on 10/2 captured 16 KC-135 tanker aircraft, one RC-135 electronic reconnaissance aircraft, and two C-17 transport aircraft at Al Udeid. 10 days later, the base hosted 7 KC-135 tanker aircraft, one RC-135 reconnaissance aircraft, and three C-130 transport aircraft. The evacuation was almost complete by 24/2.

Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia is becoming a station for many US aircraft, including KC-135 and KC-46A tanker aircraft, E-3 early warning aircraft, and E-11A communication relay aircraft.

Satellite imagery released by MizarVision on 23/2 showed 15 KC-135 aircraft, one KC-46, and 6 E-3 aircraft parked at Prince Sultan Air Base.

Imagery of the Diego Garcia outpost in the Indian Ocean on 25/2 indicated signs that the US is preparing to deploy strategic bombers there.

At least 16 F-16 fighter jets, three KC-135 tanker aircraft, two P-8A maritime patrol aircraft, two C-130J transport aircraft, three C-17 transport aircraft, and one C-5M heavy transport aircraft were visible on the outdoor parking apron. It is unclear whether B-2 stealth bombers were present in the clamshell hangars.