Open-source flight tracking shows continued U.S. military aircraft movements toward the Middle East on Friday
By Bernie,
Open-source flight tracking shows continued U.S. military aircraft movements toward the Middle East on Friday morning. Three KC-135R tanker aircraft that had been positioned at Moron Air Base in Spain since January 20 departed for Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar. An additional tanker arrived in Spain overnight.
F-35A Lightning II fighter jets from the 158th Fighter Wing of the U.S. Air National Guard arrived at Lajes Field in the Azores, Portugal, on Thursday evening as part of the ongoing U.S. military buildup.
According to tracking data compiled by the Military Air Tracking Alliance, U.S. assets currently in or en route to the Middle East include multiple KC-46A Pegasus and KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft, C-17A Globemaster III cargo planes, a KC-135V Rivet Joint intelligence aircraft, and MQ-4C Triton surveillance drones. An HC-130J Combat King II aircraft associated with special forces missions has reportedly moved to Azerbaijan. Assets in Europe that may support a bomber mission include approximately 16 KC-135 Stratotankers at RAF Mildenhall in the United Kingdom.
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