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RT @ArmchairAdml: #USAF United States Air Force - Middle East Activity
17 February - Day Summary
It's been a busy day. A total of 48x F-16s from Aviano, Spangdahlem and McEntire have deployed to the Middle East, the first 6 of 12 F-22s from Langley AFB have arrived at RAF Lakenheath tonight, 6 E-3 Sentrys are deploying, with two at Mildenhall and four en route to Ramstein, and tankers have begun deploying to Lajes.
On top of this, C-17 and C-5 flights now stand at least 176, plus 24 that are in-progress.
The number of aircraft involved *just today* is staggering and is more than some airforces have in total.
ISR Deployments
Boeing E-3 Sentry 4x
#AE11DC 76-1605 - SHUCK 84
#AE11E7 79-0001 - SHUCK 85
+ SHUCK 86-87
Bombardier E-11A BACN 1x
#AE77A3 22-9046 - BLACKWOLF 02
Boeing KC-46 Pegasus 5x
#AE63B6 20-46074 - ADLAY 51
#AE63C4 21-46088 - FIAT 41
#AE5FA8 21-46061 - ETHYL 31
#AE63C7 21-46091 - DECOR 21
#AE5FAA 19-46063 - BOLA 21
Lajes Field, Azores, Portugal
Boeing KC-46 Pegasus 6x
#AE5E0B 17-46030 - REACH 422
#AE5E12 17-46037 - REACH 408
#AE5FA6 11-46059 - REACH 317
#AE5E07 17-46026 - REACH 304
#AE5E08 17-46027 - REACH 292
#AE63BE 20-46082 - REACH 280
Six KC-46 Pegasus tankers have deployed, mainly from McConnell AFB, to Lajes Field in the Azores. This is a suitable spot for tankers to base themselves for refuelling bombers making round-trip flights from CONUS to Iran. Another likely location for tankers will be Chania Airport in Crete.
Chania Airport, Souda Bay, Crete
Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker 5x
#AE0394 64-14832 - REACH 465
#AE04E5 59-1478 - REACH 128
#AE0157 58-0083 - REACH 532
#AE0651 58-0057 - REACH 288
#AE0471 57-1451 - REACH 129
Five KC-135s have deployed out to Chania Airport - like Lajes this would be a likely location to stage tankers to support a flight of bombers.
Other Tanker Deployments
#AE0242 58-0065 - REACH 246 (Sofia)
#AE0360 58-0094 - REACH 411 (Sofia)
#AE04C2 59-1459 - Unknown C/S (Sofia)
#AE0598 59-1521 - Unknown C/S (Rota)
#AE023C 63-8888 - Unknown C/S (Rota)
Five KC-46s are supporting the deployment of a further four E-3s and an RC-135. An E-11 is also deploying from Warner Robins AFB to Ramstein.
Summary
There is just too much now for me to cover now in these posts, so please take a look at the tables below. Anything new is green.
There may be slower updates tomorrow and thursday as I'm heading over to Lakenheath for the next set of F-22s.
@MATA_osint @DefenceGeek @sipjack1776 @TheIntelFrog @Andyyyyrrrr @vcdgf555 @sentdefender @Osinttechnical @FaytuksNetwork @Faytuks
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RT @ArmchairAdml: #USAF United States Air Force - Middle East Activity
17 February - Day Summary
It's been a busy day. A total of 48x F-16s from Aviano, Spangdahlem and McEntire have deployed to the Middle East, the first 6 of 12 F-22s from Langley AFB have arrived at RAF Lakenheath tonight, 6 E-3 Sentrys are deploying, with two at Mildenhall and four en route to Ramstein, and tankers have begun deploying to Lajes.
On top of this, C-17 and C-5 flights now stand at least 176, plus 24 that are in-progress.
The number of aircraft involved *just today* is staggering and is more than some airforces have in total.
ISR Deployments
Boeing E-3 Sentry 4x
#AE11DC 76-1605 - SHUCK 84
#AE11E7 79-0001 - SHUCK 85
+ SHUCK 86-87
Bombardier E-11A BACN 1x
#AE77A3 22-9046 - BLACKWOLF 02
Boeing KC-46 Pegasus 5x
#AE63B6 20-46074 - ADLAY 51
#AE63C4 21-46088 - FIAT 41
#AE5FA8 21-46061 - ETHYL 31
#AE63C7 21-46091 - DECOR 21
#AE5FAA 19-46063 - BOLA 21
Lajes Field, Azores, Portugal
Boeing KC-46 Pegasus 6x
#AE5E0B 17-46030 - REACH 422
#AE5E12 17-46037 - REACH 408
#AE5FA6 11-46059 - REACH 317
#AE5E07 17-46026 - REACH 304
#AE5E08 17-46027 - REACH 292
#AE63BE 20-46082 - REACH 280
Six KC-46 Pegasus tankers have deployed, mainly from McConnell AFB, to Lajes Field in the Azores. This is a suitable spot for tankers to base themselves for refuelling bombers making round-trip flights from CONUS to Iran. Another likely location for tankers will be Chania Airport in Crete.
Chania Airport, Souda Bay, Crete
Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker 5x
#AE0394 64-14832 - REACH 465
#AE04E5 59-1478 - REACH 128
#AE0157 58-0083 - REACH 532
#AE0651 58-0057 - REACH 288
#AE0471 57-1451 - REACH 129
Five KC-135s have deployed out to Chania Airport - like Lajes this would be a likely location to stage tankers to support a flight of bombers.
Other Tanker Deployments
#AE0242 58-0065 - REACH 246 (Sofia)
#AE0360 58-0094 - REACH 411 (Sofia)
#AE04C2 59-1459 - Unknown C/S (Sofia)
#AE0598 59-1521 - Unknown C/S (Rota)
#AE023C 63-8888 - Unknown C/S (Rota)
Five KC-46s are supporting the deployment of a further four E-3s and an RC-135. An E-11 is also deploying from Warner Robins AFB to Ramstein.
Summary
There is just too much now for me to cover now in these posts, so please take a look at the tables below. Anything new is green.
There may be slower updates tomorrow and thursday as I'm heading over to Lakenheath for the next set of F-22s.
@MATA_osint @DefenceGeek @sipjack1776 @TheIntelFrog @Andyyyyrrrr @vcdgf555 @sentdefender @Osinttechnical @FaytuksNetwork @Faytuks
#USAF United States Air Force - Middle East Activity (Coronet)
17 February - 1715z
Boeing KC-46 Pegasus 2x
#AE63D0 22-46100 - ROMA 03
#AE63CB 21-46095 - ROMA 02
Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker 1x
#AE023B 57-1440 - ROMA 04
Lockheed Martin F-22A Raptor 6x
#TREND 51-56 Flight 6x #F22
ROMA 02-04 are towing TREND 51 flight of six F-22A Raptors from Langley Air Force Base, headed to RAF Lakenheath this evening.
The second flight of F-22s did not depart, unknown reason. Possibly tanker troubles
Photos: @havoc_aviation (June 2025)
@MATA_osint @DefenceGeek @sipjack1776 @TheIntelFrog @Andyyyyrrrr @vcdgf555 @sentdefender @Osinttechnical @FaytuksNetwork @Faytuks tweet
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RT @DefenceGeek: Bomber Mission XVII & XVIII - 3rd Dual Missions #FreeIran
--- Operation EPIC FURY ---
Yesterday (15th March 2026) the US bomber fleet at RAF Fairford (EGVA) launched 2 bombing missions with 2 different bomber types to Iran, one that departed around 0930Z and another that departed around 1230Z. Both missions arrived back at RAF Fairford overnight - 2 separate maps today because of the two different bomber types:
Mission XVII
B-52H "SPIT45" ?
B-52H "SPIT46" 60-0023 #AE587C "Bomber Barons"
KC-135 (x4?) ? (Likely from Ramstein, unconfirmed)
KC-135R "FIST34" 63-7976 #AE038D
KC-135R "FIST35" 63-8000 #AE0671
KC-135R "FIST36" 59-1521 #AE0598
KC-135T "FIST37" 58-0071 #AE0654
Mission XVIII
B-1B "CORIA35" 85-0072 #AE6BD6 "Polarized"
B-1B "CORIA36" ?
KC-135R "FIST25" 61-0315 #AE0237 (From RAF Mildenhall)
KC-135T "FIST26" 59-1464 #AE0659 (From RAF Mildenhall)
KC-135T "FIST27" 59-1470 #AE04C3 (From RAF Mildenhall)
KC-135R "FIST28" 63-8008 #AE048A (Spare, did not launch, from RAF Mildenhall)
KC-135R "FIST47" 62-3564 #AE07BC (From Sofia)
KC-135R "FIST48" 59-1459 #AE04C2 (From Sofia)
KC-135R "FIST49" 58-0092 #AE025D (From Sofia)
@MATA_osint @AUX_OSINT @ArmchairAdml @Saint1Mil
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RT @DefenceGeek: Bomber Mission XVII & XVIII - 3rd Dual Missions #FreeIran
--- Operation EPIC FURY ---
Yesterday (15th March 2026) the US bomber fleet at RAF Fairford (EGVA) launched 2 bombing missions with 2 different bomber types to Iran, one that departed around 0930Z and another that departed around 1230Z. Both missions arrived back at RAF Fairford overnight - 2 separate maps today because of the two different bomber types:
Mission XVII
B-52H "SPIT45" ?
B-52H "SPIT46" 60-0023 #AE587C "Bomber Barons"
KC-135 (x4?) ? (Likely from Ramstein, unconfirmed)
KC-135R "FIST34" 63-7976 #AE038D
KC-135R "FIST35" 63-8000 #AE0671
KC-135R "FIST36" 59-1521 #AE0598
KC-135T "FIST37" 58-0071 #AE0654
Mission XVIII
B-1B "CORIA35" 85-0072 #AE6BD6 "Polarized"
B-1B "CORIA36" ?
KC-135R "FIST25" 61-0315 #AE0237 (From RAF Mildenhall)
KC-135T "FIST26" 59-1464 #AE0659 (From RAF Mildenhall)
KC-135T "FIST27" 59-1470 #AE04C3 (From RAF Mildenhall)
KC-135R "FIST28" 63-8008 #AE048A (Spare, did not launch, from RAF Mildenhall)
KC-135R "FIST47" 62-3564 #AE07BC (From Sofia)
KC-135R "FIST48" 59-1459 #AE04C2 (From Sofia)
KC-135R "FIST49" 58-0092 #AE025D (From Sofia)
@MATA_osint @AUX_OSINT @ArmchairAdml @Saint1Mil
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