Following the March 6 relocation of U.S. Patriot missile batteries to Osan Air Base, military transport aircraft including rare C-5 models have departed the base over the past week, prompting renewed speculation of shipments to the Middle East amid escalating Iran tensions.
Since late February 2026, U.S. C-5 and C-17 transport aircraft have landed at Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, with departures observed from Tuesday to Saturday prior to March 8, per reports from The Korea Times and Yonhap News Agency.
At least two C-5s arrived in late February and left on the previous Saturday and Monday, tracing flight paths over 14 hours potentially to the U.S. mainland or Middle East. Separately, six C-17s headed to a U.S. base in Anchorage, Alaska, amid routine troop and equipment rotations.
This follows USFK's recent consolidation of Patriot batteries at Osan from other bases, echoing a 2025 deployment to the Middle East for strikes on Iranian nuclear sites that returned in October. While destinations remain unconfirmed—for operational security, USFK declined comment on asset movements, reaffirming focus on Korean Peninsula readiness.
The activity may tie to the Freedom Shield exercise starting March 9. South Korea's defense ministry and presidential office withheld comment, citing allied consultations. No confirmation exists on whether aircraft carried missiles.
