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The USMC set up remote forward refueling and rearming points for F-35Bs and other aircraft, as well as sensing locations during the war with Iran. The post USMC Used Its Expeditionary Operations Playbook In Combat For First Time During Epic Fury appeared first on TWZ.
Analysis Summary
# Morning News Roll-up September 18, 2026
## Overview
The U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) successfully transitioned the Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations (EABO) concept from an experimental framework to a proven combat tactic during Operation Epic Fury. This marks a shift in modern littoral warfare, emphasizing decentralized, low-signature operations to mitigate risks from long-range precision fires.
## Top Stories
### USMC Implements EABO Concept in Combat for the First Time
- Summary: The 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) utilized Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations (EABO) during recent combat against Iranian forces. This involved establishing austere Forward Arming and Refueling Points (FARPs) and remote sensing locations to sustain F-35B operations and joint force power while under fire from missile and drone barrages.
- Source: hxxps://www[.]twz[.]com/sea/usmc-used-its-expeditionary-operations-playbook-in-combat-for-first-time-during-epic-fury
### Marine Corps F-35Cs Validate Expeditionary Airfield Capabilities
- Summary: USMC F-35C variants successfully completed their first arrested landings at expeditionary airfields. This technical milestone ensures that carrier-capable stealth fighters can operate from short, makeshift runways in contested environments, reinforcing the EABO strategy of asset dispersal.
- Source: hxxps://www[.]twz[.]com/38068/marine-corps-f-35cs-make-first-arrested-landings-at-an-expeditionary-airfield
### AC-130J Ghostrider Gunship Demonstrates Highway Operations
- Summary: In a significant expansion of agile combat employment, the AC-130J Ghostrider gunship operated from a highway for the first time. This capability allows heavy fire-support aircraft to remain operational even if primary military airbases are targeted or destroyed by enemy kinetic strikes.
- Source: hxxps://www[.]twz[.]com/air/ac-130j-ghostrider-gunship-has-operated-from-a-highway-for-the-first-time
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# Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations (EABO) in Operation Epic Fury
## Key Points
- **Combat Debut:** The 31st MEU deployment (January–July 2026) marked the first operational combat use of the EABO concept.
- **Asset Preservation:** EABO was utilized as a defensive tactic to protect U.S. aircraft and personnel from heavy Iranian missile and drone barrages targeting established regional bases.
- **Joint Force Integration:** Marines provided FARP services not only for USMC F-35Bs but also for aircraft from other branches of the joint force.
- **Remote Sensing:** Small, low-signature teams established forward sensing and maritime domain awareness nodes to monitor enemy movements in contested waters.
## Threat Actors
- **Iranian Forces / Affiliated Proxies:** Conducted sustained kinetic attacks using ballistic missiles and one-way attack drones against fixed U.S. installations in the Middle East.
- **Motivations:** Disruption of U.S. regional influence, blockade enforcement, and attrition of U.S. air assets.
## TTPs
- **Distributed Operations:** Breaking down large units into small, mobile groups to reduce the target signature.
- **Forward Arming and Refueling Points (FARPs):** Rapid setup of temporary refueling and rearming stations in austere locations (e.g., islands or remote coastlines).
- **Agile Combat Employment (ACE):** Operating aircraft from non-traditional surfaces, including expeditionary airfields and highways.
- **Maritime Interdiction:** Boarding and searching vessels to enforce blockades.
## Affected Systems
- **F-35B Lightning II:** STOVL aircraft utilized for expeditionary strikes.
- **MV-22 Osprey:** Primary transport for rapid insertion of EABO teams.
- **Fixed Infrastructure:** Established U.S. bases in Jordan and the wider Middle East (victims of missile/drone strikes).
- **C4ISR Systems:** Remote sensing and communication nodes used for maritime domain awareness.
## Mitigations
- **Mobility and Dispersal:** Moving assets away from known, static geographic coordinates to temporary, austere locations to complicate enemy targeting.
- **Signature Management:** Utilizing low-signature forces to avoid detection by enemy ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance).
- **Counter-Targeting:** Establishing forward bases to provide early warning and counter-targeting data to the joint force.
- **Expeditionary Engineering:** Rapid construction of arrested landing zones and portable fueling infrastructure.
## Conclusion
The successful execution of EABO during Operation Epic Fury validates the USMC's shift toward decentralized operations. By utilizing FARPs and remote sensing, the USMC demonstrated that it can maintain combat power and air superiority even when traditional large-scale airbases are under threat from sophisticated missile and drone TTPs. This marks a critical transition from theoretical "Force Design 2030" concepts to combat-proven doctrine.