ELINT News
RT @Faytuks: Tankers are on the move that will possibly end up in the Middle East
Follow @DefenceGeek for continous updates on aircraft movement to CENTCOM.
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RT @Faytuks: Tankers are on the move that will possibly end up in the Middle East
Follow @DefenceGeek for continous updates on aircraft movement to CENTCOM.
Ok so we have:
CONUS -> Moron
RCH037 57-1468 #AE0149
RCH038 57-2603 #AE0269
RCH039 58-0052 #AE0163
RCH040 61-0299 #AE0665
CONUS -> ?
RCH800 63-8872 #AE014E
? 59-1498 #AE07A7
? 63-3547 #AE0145
? 60-0318 #AE0376
All heading east... further info when we have it!
@MATA_osint https://twitter.com/DefenceGeek/status/2013770338950140283/photo/1 tweet
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RT @ArmchairAdml: #USAF United States Air Force - Middle East Activity
21 January 2026 - 1025z
There have been a total of nine tanker movements overnight from CONUS to Europe and the Middle East. Additionally, more C-17's from RAF Lakenheath and Ramstein to Jordan.
The totals so far since 16 January are 29 C-17's and 12 KC-135's.
Note: All the information in these posts is obtained via public sources (FlightRadar24/ADS-B/ACARS), and discrete movements are omitted.
Tanker Movements
#AE014E 63-8872 - REACH 800 (Bangor ANGB)
#AE07A7 59-1498 - REACH 801 (Bangor ANGB)
#AE013A 59-1488 - REACH 802 (Bangor ANGB)
#AE0847 58-0107 - REACH 803 (Bangor ANGB)
#AE0152 63-8034 - REACH 892 (MacDill AFB)
Four KC-135's departed Bangor ANGB and have travelled directly to Al Udeid in Qatar. This is possibly just a rotation of the tankers already in Qatar, of which some have been there since October, but it's important to note.
REACH 892 is the second tanker to depart MacDill AFB for RAF Mildenhall. The other, REACH 891, hasn't departed yet.
Muwaffaq Salti Air Base, Jordan
#AE1462 06-6164 - REACH 865 (RAF Lakenheath)
#AE1239 04-4129 - REACH 841 (RAF Lakenheath)
#AE10BA 01-0191 - REACH 439 (Ramstein)
#AE145A 06-6156 - REACH 844 (Ramstein)
Four more C-17's have flown to Salti overnight. Two went from Ramstein to RAF Lakenheath, while the other two went straight to Jordan. These are still on the same range of mission codes as the others over the past few days.
Naval Support Facility Diego Garcia, British Indian Ocean Territory
#AE1450 05-5146 - REACH 160 (Yokota Air Base, Japan)
A single C-17 from Yokota arrived at Diego Garcia overnight.
Summary
The additional tanker movements could well be rotations for units that have been at Al Udeid for a few months, but these rotations typically make stops at Mildenhall rather than going direct - even from Bangor. It will be interesting to see if the two tankers at Mildenhall move in the next day or so.
Any additions or corrections please let me know. For older movements please see the quoted posts, as there isn't enough space to fit everything in a single screenshot now.
Thanks!
@MATA_osint @DefenceGeek @sipjack1776 @TheIntelFrog @CivIntelUK @Andyyyyrrrr @vcdgf555 @USAF_VIP_LGX @havoc_aviation @steffanwatkins
#USAF United States Air Force - Middle East Activity
20 January 2026 - 2140z
Good Evening everyone, we have potential tanker movements!
Note: All the information in these posts is obtained via public sources (FlightRadar24/ADS-B/ACARS), and discrete movements are omitted. I have also cropped out older movements as the table is getting too long.
March Air Reserve Base, California
#AE0665 61-0299 - REACH 040
#AE0163 58-0052 - REACH 039
#AE0269 57-2603 - REACH 038
#AE0149 57-1468 - REACH 037
At least four (at the time of writing) KC-135's based at March ARB in California have filed via ACARS for Moron Air Base in Spain. This is a particularly interesting move given the route the B-2's took during Operation Midnight Hammer.
RAF Lakenheath, United Kingdom
#AE1461 06-6163 - REACH 876 (Ramstein)
#AE1198 03-3115 - REACH 869 (Ramstein)
Two aircraft currently on the ground at Lakenheath. There has been a total of four flights here today. REACH 844 departed earlier today but returned to Ramstein and did not continue on to Jordan.
Muwaffaq Salti Air Base, Jordan
#AE117D 02-1111 - REACH 856 (Lakenheath)
#AE49C7 09-9211 - REACH 854 (Lakenheath)
#AE2FAC 08-8200 - REACH 835 (Lakenheath)
Three additional C-17's have arrived, or are en route, to Muwaffaq Salti. This brings the total number of C-17's here from Lakenheath to eight, plus another two that are still on the ground at Lakenheath.
Unknown Final Location / Potential Involvement
#AE10BA 01-0191 - REACH 439 (Dover AFB)
#AE146E 07-7176 - REACH 417 (Dover AFB)
#AE49C6 09-9210 - REACH 467 (Creech AFB)
#AE0591 58-0075 - Unknown C/S (Beale AFB)
Currently I have four aircraft that I can't make a [...]
RT @ArmchairAdml: #USAF United States Air Force - Middle East Activity
21 January 2026 - 1025z
There have been a total of nine tanker movements overnight from CONUS to Europe and the Middle East. Additionally, more C-17's from RAF Lakenheath and Ramstein to Jordan.
The totals so far since 16 January are 29 C-17's and 12 KC-135's.
Note: All the information in these posts is obtained via public sources (FlightRadar24/ADS-B/ACARS), and discrete movements are omitted.
Tanker Movements
#AE014E 63-8872 - REACH 800 (Bangor ANGB)
#AE07A7 59-1498 - REACH 801 (Bangor ANGB)
#AE013A 59-1488 - REACH 802 (Bangor ANGB)
#AE0847 58-0107 - REACH 803 (Bangor ANGB)
#AE0152 63-8034 - REACH 892 (MacDill AFB)
Four KC-135's departed Bangor ANGB and have travelled directly to Al Udeid in Qatar. This is possibly just a rotation of the tankers already in Qatar, of which some have been there since October, but it's important to note.
REACH 892 is the second tanker to depart MacDill AFB for RAF Mildenhall. The other, REACH 891, hasn't departed yet.
Muwaffaq Salti Air Base, Jordan
#AE1462 06-6164 - REACH 865 (RAF Lakenheath)
#AE1239 04-4129 - REACH 841 (RAF Lakenheath)
#AE10BA 01-0191 - REACH 439 (Ramstein)
#AE145A 06-6156 - REACH 844 (Ramstein)
Four more C-17's have flown to Salti overnight. Two went from Ramstein to RAF Lakenheath, while the other two went straight to Jordan. These are still on the same range of mission codes as the others over the past few days.
Naval Support Facility Diego Garcia, British Indian Ocean Territory
#AE1450 05-5146 - REACH 160 (Yokota Air Base, Japan)
A single C-17 from Yokota arrived at Diego Garcia overnight.
Summary
The additional tanker movements could well be rotations for units that have been at Al Udeid for a few months, but these rotations typically make stops at Mildenhall rather than going direct - even from Bangor. It will be interesting to see if the two tankers at Mildenhall move in the next day or so.
Any additions or corrections please let me know. For older movements please see the quoted posts, as there isn't enough space to fit everything in a single screenshot now.
Thanks!
@MATA_osint @DefenceGeek @sipjack1776 @TheIntelFrog @CivIntelUK @Andyyyyrrrr @vcdgf555 @USAF_VIP_LGX @havoc_aviation @steffanwatkins
#USAF United States Air Force - Middle East Activity
20 January 2026 - 2140z
Good Evening everyone, we have potential tanker movements!
Note: All the information in these posts is obtained via public sources (FlightRadar24/ADS-B/ACARS), and discrete movements are omitted. I have also cropped out older movements as the table is getting too long.
March Air Reserve Base, California
#AE0665 61-0299 - REACH 040
#AE0163 58-0052 - REACH 039
#AE0269 57-2603 - REACH 038
#AE0149 57-1468 - REACH 037
At least four (at the time of writing) KC-135's based at March ARB in California have filed via ACARS for Moron Air Base in Spain. This is a particularly interesting move given the route the B-2's took during Operation Midnight Hammer.
RAF Lakenheath, United Kingdom
#AE1461 06-6163 - REACH 876 (Ramstein)
#AE1198 03-3115 - REACH 869 (Ramstein)
Two aircraft currently on the ground at Lakenheath. There has been a total of four flights here today. REACH 844 departed earlier today but returned to Ramstein and did not continue on to Jordan.
Muwaffaq Salti Air Base, Jordan
#AE117D 02-1111 - REACH 856 (Lakenheath)
#AE49C7 09-9211 - REACH 854 (Lakenheath)
#AE2FAC 08-8200 - REACH 835 (Lakenheath)
Three additional C-17's have arrived, or are en route, to Muwaffaq Salti. This brings the total number of C-17's here from Lakenheath to eight, plus another two that are still on the ground at Lakenheath.
Unknown Final Location / Potential Involvement
#AE10BA 01-0191 - REACH 439 (Dover AFB)
#AE146E 07-7176 - REACH 417 (Dover AFB)
#AE49C6 09-9210 - REACH 467 (Creech AFB)
#AE0591 58-0075 - Unknown C/S (Beale AFB)
Currently I have four aircraft that I can't make a [...]