Iranian Missiles Hit U.S. A-10 Attack Aircraft and F-15 Fighters Straining Base Defenses in Jordan.

Iranian ballistic missiles struck Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan and damaged a U.S. A-10 attack aircraft and several F-15 fighters. The attack increases pressure on U.S. force protection and air defense requirements at a forward hub supporting operations across the Levant.

The strike reportedly left one A-10 heavily damaged and caused lighter damage to around eight F-15s at the Jordanian base. Muwaffaq Salti supports U.S. strike air superiority and ground-support missions, while its exposure to Iranian ballistic missiles is forcing greater emphasis on air defense dispersal and protection of aircraft and critical infrastructure.

Related News: Iran Claims Strike on U.S. Saildrone Explorer During Surveillance Mission Near Strait of Hormuz

U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles assigned to the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan receive a hot-pit refuel at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia during Exercise Desert Eagle on September 10, 2020. (Picture source: US DoD)

The presence of the A-10C Thunderbolt II in Jordan reflects the requirement for an aircraft capable of remaining over an operational area for extended periods and supporting forces engaged on the ground. The 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing is tasked with generating and sustaining U.S. airpower in the Levant, while CENTCOM has confirmed the use of the A-10 during Operation Epic Fury. Designed for close air support, the aircraft carries a 30 mm GAU-8/A cannon capable of firing up to 3,900 rounds per minute and can carry up to 7,200 kg of ordnance. Its ability to operate from relatively limited facilities also supports operations across a dispersed theater.

On September 9, 2026, the Jordan Armed Forces officially stated that 20 ballistic missiles launched from Iran had targeted Jordanian territory, of which 18 were intercepted and destroyed. The statement did not identify the missile types used or specify which systems conducted each interception. The previous day, on September 8, U.S. Central Command announced the destruction of five Iranian oil tankers after two attempted ballistic missile attacks against a U.S. Navy vessel. These statements place the strike against Muwaffaq Salti within a broader sequence involving pressure on land bases, threats against naval forces and U.S. operations against resources linked to the IRGC.

Regarding the F-15s, the exact variant of the aircraft reportedly damaged has not been officially specified. The presence of F-15E Strike Eagles at Muwaffaq Salti is, however, documented by the U.S. Air Force, including within the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing. The F-15E is a two-seat dual-role fighter capable of conducting both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions by day and at night. Its two Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-220 or -229 engines can generate up to 29,000 pounds of thrust each, while its navigation and targeting systems allow it to engage ground targets at long range. From Jordan, this combination supports precision strike, combat air patrol and rapid-response missions across the Levant.

Jordan’s air defense posture relies on an architecture that combines surveillance, early warning, and air defense systems. Patriot is among the missile defense systems U.S. forces used during Operation Epic Fury, although no official source reviewed attributes the September 9 interceptions specifically to a Patriot battery. The system combines radar, an engagement control station, and launchers. With the PAC-3 MSE interceptor, engagement relies on direct impact to defeat targets including tactical ballistic missiles, with repeated salvos placing pressure on available interceptor stocks.

Muwaffaq Salti provides a forward position from which U.S. aircraft can conduct air superiority, strike, and support missions across the Levant. The U.S. Air Force has identified the installation as an enduring operational hub, and F-15Es from the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing have previously operated from the base. Its location reduces transit times to several operational areas, but also places aircraft and supporting infrastructure within range of Iranian ballistic missile systems. Aircraft must remain available for missions while commanders protect runways, fuel storage, maintenance areas, and parked platforms. Dispersal, hardened shelters and Agile Combat Employment can reduce this exposure, but they also place additional demands on sortie generation and logistics.

The confrontation between Washington and Tehran is now extending over time. CENTCOM dates the start of Operation Epic Fury to February 28, 2026, and states that U.S. forces have since targeted command posts, ballistic missile sites, air defense systems, IRGC facilities and naval assets. Since July, the U.S. approach has also combined maritime control with pressure on Iranian oil exports. Iran, despite having less conventional military power than the forces deployed by the United States, retains the ability to respond through its ballistic missile arsenal and by exploiting the geographic exposure of U.S. bases and naval forces. The attacks against U.S. Navy vessels in early September, followed by the missile salvo toward Jordan, indicate that the degradation of Iranian capabilities does not amount to their elimination. For Washington, the central issue is increasingly one of endurance, requiring it to sustain a broad regional presence while protecting known operating locations over time.

Written By Erwan Halna du Fretay - Defense Analyst, Army Recognition Group
Erwan Halna du Fretay holds a Master’s degree in International Relations and has experience studying conflicts and global arms transfers. His research interests lie in Security and strategic studies, particularly the dynamics of the defense industry, the evolution of military technologies, and the strategic transformation of armed forces.