Posted on 06/16/2025 9:27:22 AM PDT by yesthatjallen
Around 30 KC-135 and KC-46 tankers departed the U.S. headed to Europe, but their final destination is unknown.
In the night between June 15 and 16, 2025, multiple U.S. Air Force KC-135 and KC-46 aerial refueling aircraft departed their bases in the United States headed to Europe. The sudden and unusual movement was quickly noticed on flight tracking websites, when about 30 tankers were first spotted headed towards the Atlantic Ocean and later arriving in Europe.
Most of these aircraft landed this morning at Ramstein Air Base in Germany and at Morón Air Base and NAS Rota in Spain, while two landed at Aviano Air Base in Italy and at least one landed at Prestwick International Airport in the UK. At the time of writing, some tankers are in flight over the Balkans, headed south, possibly towards Souda Bay in Greece or Incirlik in Turkey.
The reason of this mass deployment is unclear, however what can be said for sure is that these are repositioning flights and the tankers are not “dragging” fighter jets. If that was the case, the tankers would be flying at lower altitudes and would also be make the usual stops on the U.S. East Coast and at Lajes air base, in the Azores.
SNIP
(Excerpt) Read more at theaviationist.com ...
There will be B-52s and B-2s heading for Iran soon with bunker buster bombs ...
What this does is give President Trump options to use if he needs them.
“There will be B-52s and B-2s heading for Iran soon with bunker buster bombs.”
I’m totally okay with that.
L
The Israeli’s have only 7 707 based tankers and 7 KC130 style tankers. They probably had Saudi Tanker support from day one, but for the number of sorties they are flying, it’s time for some aircraft rest and maintenance. There is a reason the US has around 600 tankers of varying types.
Maybe, maybe not, but this certainly preps the assets necessary.
I agree that we should give Israel some of our tankers.
But we should send them the bill in the mail.
Israel is pretty wealthy. They can afford it. They've came a long way. So they should not be as dependent on our aid. Sell the weapons to them. But they should pay for it.
Just how deep unground did Iran build those facilities?
I heard it’s a big exercise. Atlantic Trident 2025. It’s in Finland and starts on the 20th. These tankers are headed over there.
Exactly.
“According to U.S. defense officials who spoke to Reuters, the large-scale deployment of roughly 30 aerial-refueling tankers with the U.S. Air Force last night to airbases in Europe, is meant to allow U.S. President Trump “options” in handling the escalating war between Israel and Iran.”
Link (with cool graphic): https://x.com/sentdefender/status/1934624129266618532
Agreed. They should be a paying customer like everyone else.
President Donald Trump, meanwhile, said “it’s possible” the United States could enter the fray.
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Looks more than possible - strike will happen right after the Nimitz arrives on station in the Med - my guess.
Iran’s nuke facilities are too deep for Israel to take out. Israel can do some damage, but nothing the Iranians could not repair and reopen the facilities for business in a few months. Deep strikes are need to be sure they never can reopen the sites.
The Moron Air Base. I’ve not heard of that AFB before, but it must be located in Democratistan.
some say up to 1/2 mile, others say over 200 feet.
“for the number of sorties they are flying, it’s time for some Israeli aircraft rest and maintenance” — good point.
You need to prepare before you act. The tankers might just sit on the ground. But they are ready if needed.
Do many bloggers trying to make clickbait out of everything.
My surmise is that Israel needs more supplies from US stockpiles.
I think that message is, “Keep talking about closing the Straits of Hormuz”.
The U.S. Air Force operates KC-135 Stratotankers (~278 aircraft) and KC-46 Pegasus tankers (~42 delivered, 179 planned by 2027) for air refueling. Below are primary basing locations as of June 2025, with recent deployment notes.
Operated by Air Mobility Command (AMC), Air National Guard (ANG), Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC), and others. Approximately 224 KC-135R and 54 KC-135T aircraft.
Newer tanker replacing KC-135s, operated by AMC, ANG, and AFRC. Primary and proposed bases as of June 2025.
Netanyahu wants regime change in Iran, which if that succeeds would be better for the Iranian people and lead to a serious diminution of Israel's enemies. However, American involvement beyond assuring Israel is well supplied has serious risks.
Pray for peace.
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