High-resolution satellite imagery released by the Chinese intelligence firm MizarVision has exposed a significant and secretive surge of specialized U.S. military aircraft at the strategic base of Diego Garcia. The photos, dated February 1, confirm the arrival of a unique aviation package that signals preparations for high-risk, long-range special operations missions, potentially involving the infiltration of Iranian territory.
The “Black Ops” Package
While Diego Garcia—a remote atoll in the Indian Ocean—often hosts heavy bombers, the new arrivals identified by MizarVision suggest a different tactical focus. The imagery shows:
* 1x MC-130J Commando II: This is the crown jewel of Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC). It is specifically designed for the clandestine infiltration, exfiltration, and resupply of special operations forces (SOF) deep behind enemy lines. Its presence is the strongest indicator yet that “boots on the ground” raids are being planned.
* 1x HC-130J Combat King II: A dedicated Personnel Recovery platform, used for Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR). Its arrival implies that planners are preparing for the possibility of downed pilots or teams needing extraction from hostile environments.
* 3x KC-135 Stratotankers: Critical for aerial refueling, extending the range of the tactical aircraft to reach the Persian Gulf from the Indian Ocean.
* 1x P-8A Poseidon: The Navy’s premier maritime patrol aircraft, likely tasked with sanitizing the waters for transiting naval assets or hunting Iranian submarines.
The Strategic Signal: “Raid Options”
Defense analysts view this specific mix of aircraft as a “raid package.” Unlike standard airstrikes, which rely on fighters and bombers, the MC-130J and HC-130J combination is the signature of covert commando operations.
This aligns directly with recent reports that President Trump was presented with options for decapitation raids or site seizures inside Iran. “You don’t send a Commando II to Diego Garcia for a training flight during a crisis,” a former Pentagon planner noted. “You send it there to wait for the green light to drop operators into denied territory.”
The Safety of Distance
Diego Garcia is critical because it sits approximately 3,000 miles from Iran—well outside the range of Tehran’s ballistic missiles, which threaten forward bases in Qatar and the UAE. By staging these high-value, slow-moving assets in the Indian Ocean, the U.S. ensures they can launch operations without fear of a preemptive strike.
The MizarVision leak effectively strips away the cover of the “Operational Silence,” revealing that while diplomats talk in Ankara, the mechanics of a shadow war are already parked on the runway.
