OSINT
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OSINTdefender
RT @ArmchairAdml: #USAF United States Air Force - Middle East Activity (CORONET)
18 January 2026
Lots of movement this morning. Aircraft of the 48th Fighter Wing and 100th Air Refuelling Wing have deployed this morning on a CORONET East tasking to the Middle East.
RAF Mildenhall, United Kingdom
#AE04FD 58-0095 - GOLD 22
#AE0237 61-0315 - GOLD 21
#AE04C3 59-1470 - GOLD 12
#AE04C1 58-0125 - GOLD 11
Four 100ARW KC-135s based at RAF Mildenhall have departed this morning supporting twelve F-15Es from Lakenheath. There were additional tankers, GOLD 99, 98 & 97, which were ground spares and were not needed.
RAF Lakenheath, United Kingdom
TABOR 71-76 Flt 6x F-15E Strike Eagles
TABOR 81-86 Flt 6x F-15E Strike Eagles
#AE145A 06-6156 - REACH 180
Twelve F-15Es departed Lakenheath this morning en route to, possibly, Muwaffaq Salti Air Base. Additionally, REACH 180 arrived to collect equipment for their deployment and has filed for Muwaffaq Salti.
Summary
As always, any additions or corrections please let me know. I'll do another update this evening with additional movements.
This is what looks to be the first major movement of the U.S. build-up in the Middle East. I expect we'll see more modern aircraft deployed soon. My own prediction was Lakenheath F-35s but it's not too late for that.
Photos: @havoc_aviation
Thanks!
@MATA_osint @DefenceGeek @sipjack1776 @TheIntelFrog @CivIntelUK @Andyyyyrrrr @vcdgf555 @USAF_VIP_LGX
tweet
RT @ArmchairAdml: #USAF United States Air Force - Middle East Activity (CORONET)
18 January 2026
Lots of movement this morning. Aircraft of the 48th Fighter Wing and 100th Air Refuelling Wing have deployed this morning on a CORONET East tasking to the Middle East.
RAF Mildenhall, United Kingdom
#AE04FD 58-0095 - GOLD 22
#AE0237 61-0315 - GOLD 21
#AE04C3 59-1470 - GOLD 12
#AE04C1 58-0125 - GOLD 11
Four 100ARW KC-135s based at RAF Mildenhall have departed this morning supporting twelve F-15Es from Lakenheath. There were additional tankers, GOLD 99, 98 & 97, which were ground spares and were not needed.
RAF Lakenheath, United Kingdom
TABOR 71-76 Flt 6x F-15E Strike Eagles
TABOR 81-86 Flt 6x F-15E Strike Eagles
#AE145A 06-6156 - REACH 180
Twelve F-15Es departed Lakenheath this morning en route to, possibly, Muwaffaq Salti Air Base. Additionally, REACH 180 arrived to collect equipment for their deployment and has filed for Muwaffaq Salti.
Summary
As always, any additions or corrections please let me know. I'll do another update this evening with additional movements.
This is what looks to be the first major movement of the U.S. build-up in the Middle East. I expect we'll see more modern aircraft deployed soon. My own prediction was Lakenheath F-35s but it's not too late for that.
Photos: @havoc_aviation
Thanks!
@MATA_osint @DefenceGeek @sipjack1776 @TheIntelFrog @CivIntelUK @Andyyyyrrrr @vcdgf555 @USAF_VIP_LGX
tweet
ELINT News
RT @DefenceGeek: Bomber Mission 39 - A couple of Divas! #FreeIran
--- Operation EPIC FURY ---
Once again, yesterday (27th March 2026) RAF Fairford (EGVA) saw the launch of 2x B-1B "Lancer" bombers for a mission to Iran. I was unable to confirm exactly what tankers refuelled them on the way home, (why will become quite apparent in another post later today)! This mission featured:
Mission XXXIX
B-1B "DIVA43" 86-0108 #AE6BF0 "Aliens with Attitude"
B-1B" DIVA44" 86-0120 #AE6BFA "Whiskey Pete"
KC-135R "VINYL27" 59-1475 #AE04C4 (From EGUN)
KC-135R "VINYL28" 63-8878 #AE05B1 (From EGUN)
KC-135R "VINYL29" 62-3540 #AE0669 (From EGUN)
KC-135T "VINYL30" 58-0095 #AE04FD (Spare, did not launch, from EGUN)
@MATA_osint @ArmchairAdml @Saint1Mil @Andyyyyrrrr @jamjake01 @vcdgf555 @steffanwatkins @Osinttechnical @NotWoofers @FaytuksNetwork @Faytuks
tweet
RT @DefenceGeek: Bomber Mission 39 - A couple of Divas! #FreeIran
--- Operation EPIC FURY ---
Once again, yesterday (27th March 2026) RAF Fairford (EGVA) saw the launch of 2x B-1B "Lancer" bombers for a mission to Iran. I was unable to confirm exactly what tankers refuelled them on the way home, (why will become quite apparent in another post later today)! This mission featured:
Mission XXXIX
B-1B "DIVA43" 86-0108 #AE6BF0 "Aliens with Attitude"
B-1B" DIVA44" 86-0120 #AE6BFA "Whiskey Pete"
KC-135R "VINYL27" 59-1475 #AE04C4 (From EGUN)
KC-135R "VINYL28" 63-8878 #AE05B1 (From EGUN)
KC-135R "VINYL29" 62-3540 #AE0669 (From EGUN)
KC-135T "VINYL30" 58-0095 #AE04FD (Spare, did not launch, from EGUN)
@MATA_osint @ArmchairAdml @Saint1Mil @Andyyyyrrrr @jamjake01 @vcdgf555 @steffanwatkins @Osinttechnical @NotWoofers @FaytuksNetwork @Faytuks
tweet
OSINT
Photo
Nuno Felix
RT @DefenceGeek: IN FULL: US Bomber Force Withdrawal from RAF Fairford #IranWar
OK so now we know the full scale of this withdrawal, here's the details - 10 of the 12 B-1B "Lancer" bombers remaining at the base (including the aircraft that only arrived 6 days ago on a rotation) are heading back to the US right now (and the other 2 were meant to leave today too, and might still do so):
Cell 1:
B-1B "MAYAN11" 86-0140 #AE6C0B (DY 345BS) "Last Lancer"
B-1B "MAYAN12" 86-0107 #AE6BEF (WA 77WPS) "Dragon Slayer"
B-1B "MAYAN13" 86-0112 #AE6BF4 (DY) "The Black Widow"
Cell 2:
B-1B "MAYAN21" 86-0138 #AE6C09 (EL) "Seek and Destroy"
B-1B "MAYAN22" 86-0103 #AE6BEC (DY) "The Reluctant Dragon"
B-1B "MAYAN23" 86-0124 #AE6BFE (DY) "Oh! Hardluck II"
Cell 3:
B-1B "MAYAN31" 86-0120 #AE6BFA (EL) "Whiskey Pete"
B-1B "MAYAN32" 85-0069 #AE6BD0 (EL) "Avenger"
Cell 4A:
B-1B "MAYAN41" 86-0111 #AE6BF3 (EL) "Let's Roll"
B-1B "MAYAN42" 85-0060 #AE6BD1 (EL) "Doolittle Raiders"
Cell 4B (Possibly broken):
B-1B "MAYAN43" 86-0108 #AE6BF0 (EL) "Alien with an Attitude"
B-1B "MAYAN44" 86-0134 #AE6C05 (EL) "Thunderbird"
Supporting Tankers (Unclear if all have actually flown):
KC-135R "LAGER52" 61-0315 #AE0237 (EGUN)
KC-135T "LAGER53" 58-0095 #AE04FD (EGUN)
KC-135R "LAGER54" 63-8878 #AE05B1 (EGUN)
KC-135R "LAGER55" 60-0353 #AE062B (EGUN)
KC-46A "BLUE30" 11-46058 #AE5FA5 (LPLA)
KC-46A "BLUE31" 21-46094 #AE63CA (LPLA)
KC-46A "BLUE40" 19-46065 #AE5FAC (LPLA)
KC-46A "HIFI81" 17-46034 #AE5E0F (KPSM)
KC-46A "HIFI82" 18-46054 #AE5FA1 (KPSM)
And so that's it - the end of the Bomber Deployment to RAF Fairford! A total of 29 B-1B and B-52H airframes have been deployed since March 2026, with a total of 64 combat and over 190 training sorties tracked by the team @MATA_osint.
I'll publish more details on the overall bomber deployment in the coming days.
A huge thank you to all those who have supported the bomber tracking effort: @ArmchairAdml @AUX_OSINT @LatAmMilMVMTs @vcdgf555 @steffanwatkins @Andyyyyrrrr @Saint1Mil @jamjake01 @rocketron101 @LHA2709 @Azorean_Lion @TallGlenn85 @window_planes & @havoc_aviation for use of your photos!
cc: @UKDefJournal @TheAviationist @thewarzonewire @AFMonthly @ASForcesMag
https://x.com/DefenceGeek/status/2106708256982704232
tweet
RT @DefenceGeek: IN FULL: US Bomber Force Withdrawal from RAF Fairford #IranWar
OK so now we know the full scale of this withdrawal, here's the details - 10 of the 12 B-1B "Lancer" bombers remaining at the base (including the aircraft that only arrived 6 days ago on a rotation) are heading back to the US right now (and the other 2 were meant to leave today too, and might still do so):
Cell 1:
B-1B "MAYAN11" 86-0140 #AE6C0B (DY 345BS) "Last Lancer"
B-1B "MAYAN12" 86-0107 #AE6BEF (WA 77WPS) "Dragon Slayer"
B-1B "MAYAN13" 86-0112 #AE6BF4 (DY) "The Black Widow"
Cell 2:
B-1B "MAYAN21" 86-0138 #AE6C09 (EL) "Seek and Destroy"
B-1B "MAYAN22" 86-0103 #AE6BEC (DY) "The Reluctant Dragon"
B-1B "MAYAN23" 86-0124 #AE6BFE (DY) "Oh! Hardluck II"
Cell 3:
B-1B "MAYAN31" 86-0120 #AE6BFA (EL) "Whiskey Pete"
B-1B "MAYAN32" 85-0069 #AE6BD0 (EL) "Avenger"
Cell 4A:
B-1B "MAYAN41" 86-0111 #AE6BF3 (EL) "Let's Roll"
B-1B "MAYAN42" 85-0060 #AE6BD1 (EL) "Doolittle Raiders"
Cell 4B (Possibly broken):
B-1B "MAYAN43" 86-0108 #AE6BF0 (EL) "Alien with an Attitude"
B-1B "MAYAN44" 86-0134 #AE6C05 (EL) "Thunderbird"
Supporting Tankers (Unclear if all have actually flown):
KC-135R "LAGER52" 61-0315 #AE0237 (EGUN)
KC-135T "LAGER53" 58-0095 #AE04FD (EGUN)
KC-135R "LAGER54" 63-8878 #AE05B1 (EGUN)
KC-135R "LAGER55" 60-0353 #AE062B (EGUN)
KC-46A "BLUE30" 11-46058 #AE5FA5 (LPLA)
KC-46A "BLUE31" 21-46094 #AE63CA (LPLA)
KC-46A "BLUE40" 19-46065 #AE5FAC (LPLA)
KC-46A "HIFI81" 17-46034 #AE5E0F (KPSM)
KC-46A "HIFI82" 18-46054 #AE5FA1 (KPSM)
And so that's it - the end of the Bomber Deployment to RAF Fairford! A total of 29 B-1B and B-52H airframes have been deployed since March 2026, with a total of 64 combat and over 190 training sorties tracked by the team @MATA_osint.
I'll publish more details on the overall bomber deployment in the coming days.
A huge thank you to all those who have supported the bomber tracking effort: @ArmchairAdml @AUX_OSINT @LatAmMilMVMTs @vcdgf555 @steffanwatkins @Andyyyyrrrr @Saint1Mil @jamjake01 @rocketron101 @LHA2709 @Azorean_Lion @TallGlenn85 @window_planes & @havoc_aviation for use of your photos!
cc: @UKDefJournal @TheAviationist @thewarzonewire @AFMonthly @ASForcesMag
https://x.com/DefenceGeek/status/2106708256982704232
UPDATE: Safe Travels "Lancers"! #IranWar
OK so this looks like a major draw-down! 6 B-1Bs have departed so far this morning, and 2-3 more are preparing to fly shortly!!
The fleet of bombers was at 12 aircraft last night, so this is a big deal!!
@MATA_osint tweet
OSINT
Photo
Status-6
RT @DefenceGeek: IN FULL: US Bomber Force Withdrawal from RAF Fairford #IranWar
OK so now we know the full scale of this withdrawal, here's the details - 10 of the 12 B-1B "Lancer" bombers remaining at the base (including the aircraft that only arrived 6 days ago on a rotation) are heading back to the US right now (and the other 2 were meant to leave today too, and might still do so):
Cell 1:
B-1B "MAYAN11" 86-0140 #AE6C0B (DY 345BS) "Last Lancer"
B-1B "MAYAN12" 86-0107 #AE6BEF (WA 77WPS) "Dragon Slayer"
B-1B "MAYAN13" 86-0112 #AE6BF4 (DY) "The Black Widow"
Cell 2:
B-1B "MAYAN21" 86-0138 #AE6C09 (EL) "Seek and Destroy"
B-1B "MAYAN22" 86-0103 #AE6BEC (DY) "The Reluctant Dragon"
B-1B "MAYAN23" 86-0124 #AE6BFE (DY) "Oh! Hardluck II"
Cell 3:
B-1B "MAYAN31" 86-0120 #AE6BFA (EL) "Whiskey Pete"
B-1B "MAYAN32" 85-0069 #AE6BD0 (EL) "Avenger"
Cell 4A:
B-1B "MAYAN41" 86-0111 #AE6BF3 (EL) "Let's Roll"
B-1B "MAYAN42" 85-0060 #AE6BD1 (EL) "Doolittle Raiders"
Cell 4B (Possibly broken):
B-1B "MAYAN43" 86-0108 #AE6BF0 (EL) "Alien with an Attitude"
B-1B "MAYAN44" 86-0134 #AE6C05 (EL) "Thunderbird"
Supporting Tankers (Unclear if all have actually flown):
KC-135R "LAGER52" 61-0315 #AE0237 (EGUN)
KC-135T "LAGER53" 58-0095 #AE04FD (EGUN)
KC-135R "LAGER54" 63-8878 #AE05B1 (EGUN)
KC-135R "LAGER55" 60-0353 #AE062B (EGUN)
KC-46A "BLUE30" 11-46058 #AE5FA5 (LPLA)
KC-46A "BLUE31" 21-46094 #AE63CA (LPLA)
KC-46A "BLUE40" 19-46065 #AE5FAC (LPLA)
KC-46A "HIFI81" 17-46034 #AE5E0F (KPSM)
KC-46A "HIFI82" 18-46054 #AE5FA1 (KPSM)
And so that's it - the end of the Bomber Deployment to RAF Fairford! A total of 29 B-1B and B-52H airframes have been deployed since March 2026, with a total of 64 combat and over 190 training sorties tracked by the team @MATA_osint.
I'll publish more details on the overall bomber deployment in the coming days.
A huge thank you to all those who have supported the bomber tracking effort: @ArmchairAdml @AUX_OSINT @LatAmMilMVMTs @vcdgf555 @steffanwatkins @Andyyyyrrrr @Saint1Mil @jamjake01 @rocketron101 @LHA2709 @Azorean_Lion @TallGlenn85 @window_planes & @havoc_aviation for use of your photos!
cc: @UKDefJournal @TheAviationist @thewarzonewire @AFMonthly @ASForcesMag
https://x.com/DefenceGeek/status/2106708256982704232
tweet
RT @DefenceGeek: IN FULL: US Bomber Force Withdrawal from RAF Fairford #IranWar
OK so now we know the full scale of this withdrawal, here's the details - 10 of the 12 B-1B "Lancer" bombers remaining at the base (including the aircraft that only arrived 6 days ago on a rotation) are heading back to the US right now (and the other 2 were meant to leave today too, and might still do so):
Cell 1:
B-1B "MAYAN11" 86-0140 #AE6C0B (DY 345BS) "Last Lancer"
B-1B "MAYAN12" 86-0107 #AE6BEF (WA 77WPS) "Dragon Slayer"
B-1B "MAYAN13" 86-0112 #AE6BF4 (DY) "The Black Widow"
Cell 2:
B-1B "MAYAN21" 86-0138 #AE6C09 (EL) "Seek and Destroy"
B-1B "MAYAN22" 86-0103 #AE6BEC (DY) "The Reluctant Dragon"
B-1B "MAYAN23" 86-0124 #AE6BFE (DY) "Oh! Hardluck II"
Cell 3:
B-1B "MAYAN31" 86-0120 #AE6BFA (EL) "Whiskey Pete"
B-1B "MAYAN32" 85-0069 #AE6BD0 (EL) "Avenger"
Cell 4A:
B-1B "MAYAN41" 86-0111 #AE6BF3 (EL) "Let's Roll"
B-1B "MAYAN42" 85-0060 #AE6BD1 (EL) "Doolittle Raiders"
Cell 4B (Possibly broken):
B-1B "MAYAN43" 86-0108 #AE6BF0 (EL) "Alien with an Attitude"
B-1B "MAYAN44" 86-0134 #AE6C05 (EL) "Thunderbird"
Supporting Tankers (Unclear if all have actually flown):
KC-135R "LAGER52" 61-0315 #AE0237 (EGUN)
KC-135T "LAGER53" 58-0095 #AE04FD (EGUN)
KC-135R "LAGER54" 63-8878 #AE05B1 (EGUN)
KC-135R "LAGER55" 60-0353 #AE062B (EGUN)
KC-46A "BLUE30" 11-46058 #AE5FA5 (LPLA)
KC-46A "BLUE31" 21-46094 #AE63CA (LPLA)
KC-46A "BLUE40" 19-46065 #AE5FAC (LPLA)
KC-46A "HIFI81" 17-46034 #AE5E0F (KPSM)
KC-46A "HIFI82" 18-46054 #AE5FA1 (KPSM)
And so that's it - the end of the Bomber Deployment to RAF Fairford! A total of 29 B-1B and B-52H airframes have been deployed since March 2026, with a total of 64 combat and over 190 training sorties tracked by the team @MATA_osint.
I'll publish more details on the overall bomber deployment in the coming days.
A huge thank you to all those who have supported the bomber tracking effort: @ArmchairAdml @AUX_OSINT @LatAmMilMVMTs @vcdgf555 @steffanwatkins @Andyyyyrrrr @Saint1Mil @jamjake01 @rocketron101 @LHA2709 @Azorean_Lion @TallGlenn85 @window_planes & @havoc_aviation for use of your photos!
cc: @UKDefJournal @TheAviationist @thewarzonewire @AFMonthly @ASForcesMag
https://x.com/DefenceGeek/status/2106708256982704232
UPDATE: Safe Travels "Lancers"! #IranWar
OK so this looks like a major draw-down! 6 B-1Bs have departed so far this morning, and 2-3 more are preparing to fly shortly!!
The fleet of bombers was at 12 aircraft last night, so this is a big deal!!
@MATA_osint tweet
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