The Missile Defense Agency has redeployed the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system equipment from White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico to the Pacific Missile Range Facility in Hawaii via four USAF C-17 airlifters. Soldiers at Ft. Bliss, Tex., moved the equipment by road from White Sands to Biggs Army Airfield at Ft. Bliss and prepared it for loading onto the airlifters, performing much as if they were making a real tactical move of the THAAD system. Just to be safe, they first practiced on C-17 mockups, according to an MDA release.
As many as 11 U.S. Air Force bombers—plus additional support aircraft—have arrived at bases in Europe as Pentagon leaders promise to ramp up bombing runs over Iran as part of Operation Epic Fury.