A Lockheed C-5 Galaxy transport aircraft of the United States Air Force arrived at the Portuguese island of Terceira in the Azores. According to media reports, the aircraft landed at the base through which, in the preceding days, a squadron of F-16 fighter jets heading to the Middle East had flown. The departure of the giant aircraft from Dover Air Force Base in the USA was recorded on Wednesday. This mobilization of American military equipment in Europe occurs in the context of escalating tensions surrounding Iran.
Arrival of a strategic transport aircraft
The C-5 Galaxy aircraft, one of the largest in the world, landed at Lajes Airfield on Terceira Island. This is a key transport hub for American forces in Europe.
Reinforcement of forces in the region
The Galaxy joined a squadron of multirole F-16 fighter jets that were also deployed to the Azores. This suggests logistical preparations for operations.
Background of escalation with Iran
The mobilization of American equipment is taking place in an atmosphere of growing tensions between the USA and Iran, although the direct mission objective has not been officially confirmed.
Key base in the Atlantic
Lajes Base in the Azores has strategic importance as a refueling and logistical point for transatlantic flights, used by both the USA and NATO.
A Lockheed C-5 Galaxy transport aircraft of the United States Air Force landed on Thursday on the Portuguese Azores. The aircraft arrived at Lajes Air Base on Terceira Island, where it joined a previously deployed squadron of multirole F-16 fighter jets. The flight was registered by air traffic monitoring services; the aircraft took off from Dover Air Force Base in Delaware.Lajes Air Base in the Azores has served as a key transit point for the Allies since World War II. After Portugal joined NATO in 1949, it became an important American military facility, used, among other times, during the Cold War and conflicts in the Middle East. The arrival of one of the world's largest transport aircraft, capable of carrying tanks, helicopters, and large quantities of equipment, is interpreted in the context of growing tensions between the United States and Iran. Reuters agency reported on the presence of American military aircraft in Portugal, which media link to growing tensions in the region, although the Pentagon officially describes these flights as routine transit operations. „"U.S. military sources stated the increased military presence in Portugal is directly linked to escalating tensions with Iran."” — Reuters The strategic location of the Azores in the North Atlantic makes Lajes Base a crucial logistical hub for the rapid movement of forces and supplies towards Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. No official direct mission objective for the Galaxy has been provided. The portal wnp.pl notes that the aircraft joined the F-16 grouping. The RMF24 service describes this arrival as part of broader military movements, emphasizing that "this is not everything" in the context of American preparations. Meanwhile, the portal wpolityce.pl directly links this event to questions about potential actions towards Iran. C-5 Galaxy — It can carry a payload of up to 130 tons over a distance of more than 5,500 km. The Pentagon has for months expressed concern over the development of Iran's nuclear program and the activities of Iran-backed groups in the region. Increased flights of American spy planes and tankers over the Middle East have been noted previously. The arrival of the Galaxy, capable of transporting heavy equipment, may indicate a stage of advanced logistical preparations, though it does not necessarily directly herald immediate military action. Lajes Base has been used repeatedly during conflicts, including in Iraq and Afghanistan, as a hub for transferring soldiers and equipment.