As speculation that a major US strike against Iran could be nearing, America’s most trusted spy drones have begun gathering intelligence high over the Persian Gulf.
A remote-controlled Triton drone took off from Al Dhafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday, spending several minutes over the Persian Gulf before heading towards Saudi Arabia and Iraq.
Both countries are close neighbors of Iran, sitting on the opposite side of the Gulf, where two US Navy carrier strike groups will soon be stationed after negotiations with Tehran collapsed over President Trump’s nuclear red line.
The MQ-4 Triton is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) designed primarily for the Navy as a high-altitude, long-range aircraft for surveillance missions typically over water.
It can operate at altitudes higher than 50,000 feet for over 24 hours, covering a range of roughly 8,500 miles.
The Navy uses these drones, which have advanced 360-degree radar, to detect, track and classify targets over large areas in advance of potential military operations.
Wednesday’s flight was the latest instance of an MQ-4 taking off to do reconnaissance over the Middle East, as another Triton was spotted by the flight-tracking website Flight Aware 24 on February 14.
Unlike the latest drone, which was headed west of Iran, Saturday’s patrol took the Triton to the southeast of Iran’s coastline.
The MQ-4 Triton unmanned drone (Pictured) is primarily operated by the US Navy for long-range surveillance
Flight-tracking website Flight Aware 24 spotted an MQ-4 Triton flying near Iran on Wednesday
Media outlets in Iran’s northern neighbor Azerbaijan reported that the drone flights followed similar US military activity on February 13, when two Navy P-8A Poseidon patrol aircraft were reportedly operating near Iran’s airspace.
President Trump is believed to be on the verge of greenlighting a ‘massive, weeks-long’ military campaign against Iran that would be seen as all-out war.
Trump’s armada off Iran’s coast has grown to include two nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, a dozen warships, and hundreds of fighter jets equipped with advanced combat systems.
More firepower is also on the way as 150 military cargo flights have begun rapidly transferring arms and ammunition to US Middle East bases this week.
Trump has ordered another 50 fighter jets, including F-35s, F-22s and F-16s, to prepare for launch as he considers further military action against Iran.
The Al Dhafra Air Base is also home to both the MQ-4 Triton and the MQ-9 Reaper unmanned drones.
The Triton does not carry any offensive weapons and is entirely focused on surveillance and reconnaissance missions, relaying target information back to its base for future attacks.
Meanwhile, its cousin the Reaper is used for both surveillance and tactical missions, carrying thousands of pounds of laser-guided bombs to carry our precision strikes.
The US military has deployed two carrier strike groups to the Middle East as negotiations with Iran break down
The US Navy has deployed both the USS Abraham Lincoln and USS Gerald R Ford carrier strike groups to the Middle East in advance of a potential strike on Iran
Trump’s war preparations come as Iran has shut down the Strait of Hormuz for a military drill believed to serve as a warning to the world if the US attacks.
On Friday, the Pentagon deployed the USS Gerald R Ford, a $13billion floating fortress, to join the USS Abraham Lincoln battle group in the Middle East, effectively doubling the US Navy’s carrier strike power in the area.
The move added significant military weight to Trump’s efforts to pressure Iran into a new deal regarding their nuclear program.
Although Trump’s threat looms over diplomatic talks, the President claimed Iran ‘wants to make a deal very badly’ and that the latest talks are much more serious than previous negotiations.
‘Last time they didn’t believe I would do it,’ Trump said about his decision to bomb Iranian nuclear facilities over the summer.
‘They overplayed their hand,’ the President added before noting that this time the talks are ‘very different.’
