l AAF is home to the Combat Aviation Brigade, 101st Airborne Division flying AH-64, CH-47, UH-60 and AH-64 helicopters, as well as the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne).

Photos: @havoc_aviation

@MATA_osint @DefenceGeek @sipjack1776 @TheIntelFrog @Andyyyyrrrr @vcdgf555 @sentdefender @Osinttechnical @FaytuksNetwork @Faytuks @Andyyyyrrrr

#USAF United States Air Force - Middle East Activity
23 February Summary

The total number of C-17/C-5 flights related to the build up in CENTCOM has risen to around 270, with a further 16 in-progress (11 air force, 5 army). Additionally, there has been additional movements with two Coronet East missions: 044 and 045.

Coronet East 044
Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker 1x
#AE0263 61-0324 - GOLD 83

GOLD 83 has positioned from March Air Reserve Base to Bangor Air National Guard Base. This is so far the only flight on CE 044. The receivers for this Coronet are unknown.

Coronet East 045
Boeing KC-46 Pegasus 4x
#AE5FAE 15-46067 - GOLD 01
#AE63C4 21-46088 - GOLD 02
#AE63B7 20-46075 - GOLD 11
#AE5BC1 16-46016 - GOLD 12

Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker 1x
#AE0663 60-0364 - GOLD 13

Five tankers are now positioned at Bangor ANGB on CE045. The makeup of this mission is similar to the Coronet last week which moved F-22s. There is what appears to be tankers for the first cell GOLD 01-02, and for a second cell GOLD 11-13. GOLD 03 hasn't been active yet.

GOLD 02 (21-46088) was breifly re-assigned as HIFI 11 on the 22nd February.

Summary
Apologies for the short update. I need to take some time to refactor my spreadsheet before I go into more details on future flights.

@MATA_osint @DefenceGeek @sipjack1776 @TheIntelFrog @Andyyyyrrrr @vcdgf555 @sentdefender @Osinttechnical @FaytuksNetwork @Faytuks @Andyyyyrrrr - Armchair Admiral 🇬🇧
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Faytuks News
We're now looking at almost 310 flights (C-17/C-5) into bases in the Middle East since the 15th January, according to @ArmchairAdml

#USAF United States Air Force - Middle East Activity
26 February Summary

We're now looking at almost 310 flights (C-17/C-5) into bases in the Middle East since the 15th January, and 16 pending flights for both Army and Air Force.

Additionally, the past 24 hours has also seen further tankers deploy to Israel, with 8 KC-46s headed to Ben Gurion Airport in Israel. We're now looking at around 66 tankers deployed to airports across Europe and Israel - excluding Al Udeid.

Twelve "HL" F-35As from Hill Air Force Base, and twelve "MO" F-15Es from Mountain Home Air Force Base arrived in the United Kingdom at RAF Lakenheath this evening.

Mildenhall is supporting these fighter movements with both visiting and based tankers. Typically, a Coronet would see tankers deploy to Mildenhall a few days before the movement. At the moment though, we're seeing tankers from the 100th Air Refuelling Wing supporting these movements.

There are still two pending Coronet missions. CE045 with "SJ" F-15Es has so far only resulted in two jets making it across the Atlantic, with the remaining 10 still at Seymour Johnson. CE046 saw tankers positioning from Beale AFB to McConnell AFB today, and their receivers are currently unknown - possibly more "HL" F-35s or "AK" F-22s.

I will post a summary of the Coronets in the update tomorrow, as I am once again in a hotel in Suffolk hoping for F-22 departures in the morning :)

Photos: @havoc_aviation

@MATA_osint @DefenceGeek @sipjack1776 @TheIntelFrog @Andyyyyrrrr @vcdgf555 @sentdefender @Osinttechnical @FaytuksNetwork @Faytuks @Andyyyyrrrr - Armchair Admiral 🇬🇧
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OSINTdefender
12 U.S. Air Force F-35As from Hill Air Force Base, Utah and 12 F-15s assigned to Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho landed at RAF Lakenheath earlier today. This follows the arrival of 6 F-22s yesterday.

#USAF United States Air Force - Middle East Activity
26 February Summary

We're now looking at almost 310 flights (C-17/C-5) into bases in the Middle East since the 15th January, and 16 pending flights for both Army and Air Force.

Additionally, the past 24 hours has also seen further tankers deploy to Israel, with 8 KC-46s headed to Ben Gurion Airport in Israel. We're now looking at around 66 tankers deployed to airports across Europe and Israel - excluding Al Udeid.

Twelve "HL" F-35As from Hill Air Force Base, and twelve "MO" F-15Es from Mountain Home Air Force Base arrived in the United Kingdom at RAF Lakenheath this evening.

Mildenhall is supporting these fighter movements with both visiting and based tankers. Typically, a Coronet would see tankers deploy to Mildenhall a few days before the movement. At the moment though, we're seeing tankers from the 100th Air Refuelling Wing supporting these movements.

There are still two pending Coronet missions. CE045 with "SJ" F-15Es has so far only resulted in two jets making it across the Atlantic, with the remaining 10 still at Seymour Johnson. CE046 saw tankers positioning from Beale AFB to McConnell AFB today, and their receivers are currently unknown - possibly more "HL" F-35s or "AK" F-22s.

I will post a summary of the Coronets in the update tomorrow, as I am once again in a hotel in Suffolk hoping for F-22 departures in the morning :)

Photos: @havoc_aviation

@MATA_osint @DefenceGeek @sipjack1776 @TheIntelFrog @Andyyyyrrrr @vcdgf555 @sentdefender @Osinttechnical @FaytuksNetwork @Faytuks @Andyyyyrrrr - Armchair Admiral 🇬🇧
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Faytuks News
There have now been at least 333 USAF C-17 and C-5 flights to the Middle East since 15 January, according to @ArmchairAdml

The US military buildup continues.

#USAF United States Air Force - Middle East Activity
27 February - Tanker/Airlift Summary

There have now been at least 333 C-17 and C-5 flights from U.S. Military bases in Asia, CONUS and Europe to the Middle East since 15 January. There are a further 5 pending Army-related flights, and 9 Air Force-related flights.

I've observed now a number of flights heading into the Middle East that aren't tracking on ADS-B/Flight Radar. As I've stated before, I don't include these on my list until their location is already public knowledge.

The flights are currently from a wide variety of origin bases, unlike earlier in the build up where we saw days of flights from a single base.

There are many whose ACARS messages originate from places such as Dover, Charleston and Bangor which leads me to believe they are masking their original location and not initialising on ACARS until they reach their first stop on their flight. This would be to prevent us seeing where they came from.

The flow of flights, if anything, is only increasing. This ADS-B Exchange screenshot is truly incredible.

Photos: @havoc_aviation

@MATA_osint @DefenceGeek @sipjack1776 @TheIntelFrog @Andyyyyrrrr @vcdgf555 @sentdefender @Osinttechnical @FaytuksNetwork @Faytuks @Andyyyyrrrr - Armchair Admiral 🇬🇧
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Faytuks News
RT @hey_itsmyturn: Here it is, a #USAF 🇺🇸 Reaper over Shiraz, Fars Province. #Iran
Reports: 20+ explosions

(All videos are exclusive, yet you can use them as long as you don't watermark them) https://twitter.com/hey_itsmyturn/status/2027713096995799040/video/1

Ok, I just watched several videos I was sent, and guess what, a Reaper is flying over Shiraz, Fars Province.
#Iran - Shin
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Nuno Felix
RT @stunorth69: 🇺🇸 #USAF KC-135 Stratotanker
#AE04CA / 60-0360
#AE0594 /58-0128
ROTA (LERT)>

@sipjack1776 @Gh0str1dr91 @ArmchairAdml
Immediately when dark on take off. https://twitter.com/stunorth69/status/2027789507253121522/photo/1
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Nuno Felix
RT @alexplitsas: More tankers headed to the region

#USAF United States Air Force - Middle East Activity
1503z - 28 February

Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker 9x
#AE04DC 57-1461 - REACH 5??
#AE04F8 63-7988 - REACH 559
#AE050A 63-8018 - REACH 564
#AE0500 59-1495 - REACH 5??
#AE04EA 61-0276 - REACH 5??

#AE0160 57-1479 - REACH 572
#AE0487 62-3556 - REACH 575
#AE04E3 59-1469 - REACH 576
#AE038B 62-3543 - REACH 568

Nine KC-135s have departed Lincoln ANGB and Andrews AFB. Some (at least) are heading for Ben Gurion Airport in Israel.

@mata_osint @DefenceGeek - Armchair Admiral 🇬🇧
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Nuno Felix
RT @Natsecjeff: https://twitter.com/Natsecjeff/status/2028115274109698290/photo/1

Dozens of #IAF 🇮🇱 (or #USAF 🇺🇸 ) jets were just spotted over Urmia, West Azerbaijan - Shin
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Michael A. Horowitz
RT @hey_itsmyturn: Clear shot of the #USAF 🇺🇸 Reaper over Shiraz
#Fars Province, #Iran

(Again: Please use my ,media however you like, but do not watermark) https://twitter.com/hey_itsmyturn/status/2028442639700234334/video/1
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Michael A. Horowitz
RT @OAlexanderDK: Refueling inside Iranian airspace is pretty wild.

#USAF 🇺🇸 B-2A And KC-135
March 26, 2026
Near Tabriz, East Azerbaijan Province, Northwestern #Iran https://twitter.com/hey_itsmyturn/status/2037866435544834158/photo/1 - Shin
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ELINT News
RT @OAlexanderDK: Refueling inside Iranian airspace is pretty wild.

#USAF 🇺🇸 B-2A And KC-135
March 26, 2026
Near Tabriz, East Azerbaijan Province, Northwestern #Iran https://twitter.com/hey_itsmyturn/status/2037866435544834158/photo/1 - Shin
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Status-6 (War & Military News)
RT @CobraEmergency: A-10 Thunderbolt IIs from the Michigan Air National Guard arrive at RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk, UK, as Operation Epic Fury continues.

Full VLOG to come: https://youtube.com/@cobraemergency

https://x.com/i/status/2038593176470954489 https://twitter.com/CobraEmergency/status/2038703506312327413/video/1

#USAF United States Air Force - Coronet East

Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker 8x
#AE015E 59-1512 - BORA 21
#AE065F 60-0346 - BORA 22
#AE0501 59-1504 - BORA 23
#AE0687 60-0349 - BORA 24
#AE0650 58-0049 - BORA 31
#AE0504 60-0345 - BORA 32
#AE047B 58-0117 - BORA 33
#AE0377 63-0522 - BORA 34

+ TABOR 71-76 flt 6x A-10s
+ TABOR 81-86 flt 6x A-10s

Eight KC-135s from Bangor ANGB and RAF Mildenhall are supporting the move of twelve A-10 Thunderbolt II’s from Pease Air National Guard Base to RAF Lakenheath.

TABOR 71 and TABOR 81 departed ~30 mins apart, and should arrive just after sunset this evening. BORA 21/22 were travelling at just 300kts.

These A-10s are from the 107th Fighter Squadron. There are a further 6x from the 190th Fighter Squadron due to follow them this week. - Armchair Admiral 🇬🇧
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Status-6 (War & Military News)
RT @DefenceGeek: We first had indications last week that one or more additional bombers might be heading to RAF Fairford - this would appear to be what we were waiting for, albeit it remains to be seen if it actually manages the crossing!

There have been known issues with the fleet at Fairford having several mission aborts due to serviceability of the old airframes...

#USAF United States Air Force

Boeing B-52H Stratofortress 1x
#AE58AD 61-0031 - SCALP 93

Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker 1x
#AE0391 63-8039 - PICO 11

PICO 11 out of Bangor Air National Guard Base has met with B-52 SCALP 93 and are now headed East.

PICO is a contingency callsign, so this is not a training exercise. This B-52 may be headed for RAF Fairford.

@MATA_osint @DefenceGeek - Armchair Admiral 🇬🇧
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Status-6 (War & Military News)
More than a handful of 🇺🇸 #USAF Boeing KC-46A Pegasus aerial tankers bringing additional fighter jets to the Europe/Middle East theater.

All possessing ADOBE## callsigns, which are usually associated with CORONET missions.

CORONET mission - deployment of U.S. Air Force fighter jets over long distances by utilizing tanker aircraft for in-flight refueling.
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OSINTdefender
RT @ArmchairAdml: #USAF United States Air Force - VIP Movements
🧵POTUS Visit to China 2026

Boeing C-17 Globemaster III 4x
#AE1464 06-6166 - REACH 3258 (Bejing Intl)
#AE1179 02-1107 - REACH 4116 (Bejing Intl)
#AE2FA7 08-8195 - REACH 3224 (Bejing Intl)
#AE0679 00-0174 - REACH 4565 (Bejing Intl)
#AE123E 04-4133 - REACH 4172 (Bejing Intl)
#AE4F14 10-0220 - REACH 4119

An additional 6 C-17s related to the visit of U.S. President Donald Trump to China have either arrived in Beijing, or are en route.

📸 @havoc_aviation
(Mildenhall)

@MATA_osint @DefenceGeek @TheIntelFrog @Andyyyyrrrr @vcdgf555 @sentdefender @Osinttechnical

#USAF United States Air Force - VIP Movements
🧵POTUS Visit to China 2026

Boeing C-17 Globemaster III 4x
#AE144A 05-5140 - REACH 4599 (Bejing Intl)
#AE2FB0 08-8204 - REACH 4150 (Bejing Intl)
#AE145D 06-6159 - REACH 4554
#AE144C 05-5142 - REACH 3213

Two C-17s from Andrews Air Force Base, REACH 4599 and REACH 4150, have arrived at Beijing Capital International Airport in the People's Republic of China in preparation for an upcoming visit by U.S. President Donald Trump to China.

A further two C-17s also appear to be en route, with REACH 4554 headed to Elmendorf Air Force Base in Alaska, and REACH 3213 having filed via ACARS for Andrews AFB.

The flights drop out of coverage once the cross the Western coast of Korea headed towards China.

📸 @havoc_aviation (July 2025, Lakenheath)

@MATA_osint @DefenceGeek @TheIntelFrog @Andyyyyrrrr @vcdgf555 @sentdefender @Osinttechnical - Armchair Admiral 🇬🇧
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Open Source Intel
Electronic warfare aircraft possibly coming to theater

These are designed to disable enemy communications, radars, and command networks.

FAZE21 an EA37B Compass Call II arriving at RAF Fairford this morning. One of Two arriving #raffairford #ea37 #usaf https://twitter.com/Colin_YDM/status/2080179595014177066/video/1 - Colin Norwood
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OSINTdefender
The U.S. moved 12 U.S. Air Force B-1B "Lancer" strategic bombers out of RAF Fairford in England on Sunday over concerns about a possible drone attack ordered by Iran's Revolutionary Guard, according to U.S. and European officials briefed on the matter, speaking to The Wall Street Journal. The officials said it was part of a broader plot to hit the aircraft and kill personnel at the base, including American pilots.

The Pentagon declined to comment on the plot but confirmed all American bombers at the base have returned to the U.S. Vice President Vance said they were moved "out of an abundance of caution trying to protect our guys."

U.K. officials caution there is no evidence Iran could carry out such an elaborate operation against Fairford, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio said it isn't unusual for military aircraft to rotate around the world.

Six men arrested in connection with the case, including a dual U.K.-Iranian citizen, were released on bail. None have been charged.

Photo: https://x.com/havoc_aviation/status/2106734919452135724?s=20
Source: https://www.wsj.com/politics/national-security/uk-us-bomber-move-iran-drone-threat-5097f827?st=CzRfAs

🦴 Bye Bye Lancers! 🦴

Eight Rockwell B-1B Lancer Supersonic strategic heavy bombers have withdrawn from RAF Fairford today.

Here are some of my favourite shots from this deployment!

#usaf #b1 #fairford #epicfury #aviation #canon https://twitter.com/havoc_aviation/status/2106734919452135724/photo/1 - Havoc Aviation
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