File image.
The United States military has sent short-range air defense systems to a key base on the East Coast, in what may be part of preparations to defend against a possible Iranian drone attack.
Photos posted online on March 26 showed at least six AN/TWQ-1 Avenger being shipped to MacDill Air Force Base near the city of Tampa in the state of Florida. The large air base is a vital strategic hub for the U.S. military. It also hosts the headquarters Special Operations Command (SOCOM), and the Central Command (CENTCOM), which is currently leading military operations against Iran.
The Avenger was especially developed to defend against aerial targets like cruise missiles, drones, and even low-flying aircraft.
The system’s main armament is the FIM-92 Stinger infrared homing missile, which has a range of up to five kilometers. Up to eight systems can be loaded. It is also armed with a secondary .50 FN M3P machine gun with 600 rounds. The system utilizes an electro-optical fire control system, and can work in conjunction with aerial surveillance radars.
Click to see full-size image. (X)
Click to see full-size image. (X)
It has been speculated that these systems will be sent from MacDill to the Middle East to further reinforce CENTCOM air defenses.
While it is highly likely that this is the case, it is also possible that the systems were sent to reinforce the air defenses of the air base itself, especially that there have been some signs of the U.S. preparing to defend against a possible Iranian drone attack on its mainland.
Click to see full-size image. (X)
Click to see full-size image. (X)
Just three days earlier, warning systems were tested in the city of Laguna Beach in the state of California on the West Coast. The test led to some panic.
Click to see full-size image. (X)
A recent report by ABC News had revealed that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) warned police departments in California that Iran could retaliate for American attacks by launching drones at the West Coast.
The warning came just as the U.S. and Israel launched their ongoing attack against the Islamic Republic, according to the report, published on March 11.
“We recently acquired information that as of early February 2026, Iran allegedly aspired to conduct a surprise attack using unmanned aerial vehicles from an unidentified vessel off the coast of the United State Homeland, specifically against unspecified targets in California, in the event that the U.S. conducted strikes against Iran,” according to the alert distributed at the end of February. “We have no additional information on the timing, method, target, or perpetrators of this alleged attack.”
Iran has developed mulpile types of long-range suicide drones, including the Shahed-136B — unveiled just last year —, with a 90 kg warhead and a range over 4,000 kilometers.
Click to see full-size image. (IRIB)
In theory, the Islamic Republic could launch such drones against targets on the eastern or western coast of the U.S. from commercial vessels. Smuggling such large drones, and hiding the nature of the real nature of the vessels would be extremely difficult, however.
Furthermore, the early warning means of the U.S. Air Force, Navy and Coast Guard could detect the incoming drones early on, allowing for a quick response.
The fact that the U.S. is worried of such an unlikely scenario indicates that it may be planning to escalate the war on Iran even further.
The latest developments in the U.S. came amid reports suggesting that the administration of President Donald Trump is moving closer towards ordering ground operations in the Islamic Republic — with involvement of SOCOM —, that is despite engaging in diplomatic efforts to end the war.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence
NOW hosted at southfront.press
Previously, SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence was at southfront.org.
The .org domain name had been blocked by the US (NATO) (https://southfront.press/southfront-org-blocked-by-u-s-controlled-global-internet-supervisor/) globally, outlawed and without any explanation
Back before that, from 2013 to 2015, SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence was at southfront.com
false flag set up to invade what gulf of america nation ? the insatiable war dragon consumes all. the us wants more troops and submission to feed the beast it created
this beast is consuming many nations and peoples at this time. do not worry, you will be poor and like it !
cuba* not iran. this actually makes sense, since cuba is close and trump wants to regime change them. they might be preparing for cuban missiles.
hope one makes it to maralago
they’ll never catch them alien drones man.
the lie by the epstein coalition of pedophiles of an iranian attack to california serves only to make the americans bellieve they were under attack and that it was justified to attack iran and kill almost 200 girls while discussing “peace” with the iranians .the moral stature of the us elites is inexistent and all the world now knows it very well and will not trust them anymore