United States Naval Forces Central Command

Uh, we can provide maybe some guidance on how to use that intelligence for targeting.

That's all doable because CENTCOM and NAVCENT are, are just extraordinary at this.

Trust me, I've worked with them.

But the Saudi air force is also fairly good.

Today's guest spent 35 years in Navy strike fighters and attack aircraft, 13 on active duty, 22 more in the reserves, flying Intruders and Hornets from Whidbey Island to China Lake to the skies over Iraq.

He commanded the last squadron before it was disestablished, rose to flag officer, and served as vice commander of NAVCENT Fifth Fleet during the tense standoff with Iran in 2019.

Somewhere in there, he has become an Airbus captain for American Airlines.

Please welcome Rear Admiral Doug "Woody" Beale to the Fighter Pilot podcast.

18 plus.

plus.All right, welcome back, everyone.

As, uh, Vice Commander of NAVCENT Fifth Fleet, you were there in June 2019, right? I believe.

Yep, and you were close to a real shooting war with Iran at that time.

What I think CENTCOM has done over the past few months is eased the liaison relationship between these tanker vessels and the military assets that are providing cover for them.

And to do that, I think they've probably put a couple of American contractors on every one of these ships with a flyaway kit so that they can communicate back to CENTCOM, or really NAVCENT, and coordinate defenses that way.

Think of these flyaway kits as more like portable talks and radio suites that can be flown in by a helicopter, hence the name, hoisted down to the deck with a technician, and installed on the bridge of ships that have no comms but the standard VHF radio, and boom, you've got comms with whomever you need.

Better comms equals better coordination, and better coordination equals more effectiveness.

Oh, a Wall Street Journal investigation previously found that rebuilding the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet headquarters, barracks, and communications towers at NSA Bahrain may cost more than $400 million, which the second official said could be an underestimate if it's ever attempted.

Naval Forces Central Command referred questions about the cost estimate to Central Command, which he did not respond.

Okay, I love this because the U.S. was so arrogant.

We built all these bases.

Acting Navy Secretary Hung Tsao has confirmed extensive damage to a major US military installation in the Middle East.

Naval Support Activity Bahrain, which houses US Naval Forces Central Command and the US Fifth Fleet, sustained significant destruction from Iranian missile strikes during fighting that began in February.

Tsao told The Epoch Times that Iran blew the hell out of Bahrain and said a task force is examining whether repairs are needed.

Iranian Foreign Minister Saeed Abbas Araghchi responded on social media, acknowledging the strikes and stating the American people deserve better than funding Israel's wars.