More than two dozen American Air Force KC-135R and KC-46A tankers from the United States appeared last night on flight software, from their bases and on their way to the east over the Atlantic Ocean. It is not clear whether they ‘drag’ a combat aircraft with them, but there were no clear signs of that.
Although fuel movements in this direction are far from abnormal, such a large, near-simultaneous migration of the jets was very peculiar, especially in a time of extreme crisis in the Middle East. The exact reason for the massive commitment is unclear, although many of the potential answers would indicate a change or preparations for a possible change, in the current conflict between Israel and Iran.
Open-source enthusiasts went to social media after all the tankers started to pop up on software for following flights. At its peak it turned out that at least 28 tankers all went to the east. Although there is a multinational exercise in Norway that is about to start, that would not require anything like this level of relocating assets. There is no other apparent exercise or dedication that would require such an operation. On the other hand, these are precisely the assets that would be necessary if the United States were to change its support for Israel’s operation, or if there were urgent concerns that the conflict is about to grow considerably.
An American Air Force Base of McConnell Air Force Base, an American Air Force of the 350th Expeditionary air tank Squadron of McConnell Air Force Base of McConnell Air Force Base, over the US4, is flying in formation with a KC-135 stratotchiner of McConnell Air Force Base, 1 in formation of McConnell Air Force. Staff Sgt. Devin Rumbaugh Staff Sgt. Devin Rumbaugh
In addition to a sort of unlikely signaling movement, an unknown massive exercise, or another long-term obligation, there are four possible explanations for the movements in the context of the war in Iran-Israel. Keep in mind that some of these options can be pre-decision. In other words, the movement of assets could now take place, so that a wide range of unforeseen circumstances is prepared and executable options are available very quickly if necessary.
1) The US has decided whether it is preparing for the possibility that the Israel will provide fuel support for aerial photos to drastically accelerate its attacking air surgery about Iran.
As we have repeatedly discussed for years, and especially since this conflict has started, Israel has been missing robust air tank capacities, with only a handful of aging 707 tankers (about seven operational) available to support hundreds of fighter aircraft. This is a massively limiting factor when it comes to sortie generation for long-distance attacks in Iran. It also seriously limits how long aircraft can stay at the station in their assigned goal area and how deep they can penetrate into Iranian territory.
While Israel gets air superiority further east about Iran, air tanking becomes even more important. It also enables fighters to use direct attack weapons, unlike much more expensive, and in some cases less effective distance ammunition. By bringing the heaviest bunker busters of the Israeli Air Force to wear goals, Israeli planes must be in particular in the vicinity of them. Extra tank support would greatly help with these efforts.
An Israeli 707 refers an IAF F-16. AFP Photo / Gali Tibbon (Photo by Gali Tibbon / AFP) Gali Tibbon
Undoubtedly, even more important, is that refueling aerial photos makes much better effectiveness possible when it comes to hunting up and banning the Iran’s theater ballist rockets before they can be launched. This is a very challenging mission to reach on a scale under all circumstances, but even more when fighter aircraft can only stay over a search area for a few minutes before they have to go back to gas. The successful attacks on Israel by Iran Using Theater Ballist missiles can help support this effort with our tank capacity. This is especially the case if the American and Israeli stocks are extremely expensive and difficult to build rocket under-creators.
Obtaining more tank capacity of the air will therefore improve just about every facet of the tactical Jet operations of Israel, thereby to a large extent multiplying the available force. The US can offer exactly this support to scale. This would also keep the US technical From the direct kinetic fight, although Iran would probably see that claim differently.
2)) Participate in the kinetic fight.
This would mean that the US would enter the air war directly, or prepares to be more able to implement that option. These tankers would be needed for such operations, as well as for refueling Israeli planes. This would of course be a huge shift in American policy, and it could kick in the entire region, especially in terms of the probability that Iran would focus on American installations.
Three F-15 strike Eagles and a KC-46 Pegasus fly in formation. Photo by Master Sgt. Alexandre Montes Master Sgt. Alexandre Montes
This scenario can also work in reverse if Iran focused on the American interests in the region, whereby the US subsequently introduced the direct conflict. Having the tankers in advance positioned for such a contingency would be very useful.
3) Preparation to deal with Iran tries to close the Strait of Hormuz.
If this were to take place, the US and probably military Arab Arab constitutional aircraft would take action in an attempt to limit the operation. This would mean that the war would immediately become bigger, and this cannot be done alone by going out and sinking small boats. It would require a huge operation that includes Sead/Dead and Persistent Sorties Sorties. It also means that you have to hunt on very mobile shore-based anti-ship rocket launchers on a large-scale and incredibly challenging task. Again, this would require large amounts of continuous tank support. You can read our full report about the plausibility of Iran that closes the street and what is needed to break the handle of Iran on the Waterweg in a very recent function here.
Two Qatar Emiri Air Force F-15QA Ababil Flying with an American Air Force KC-46 Pegasus during exercise Eagle Resolve 25 on Qatar, January 21, 2025. This exercise shows American dedication to deterrence and collective defense with Gulf Cooperation Council partners. Photo by Staff Sgt. Gerald R. Willis Staff Sgt. Gerald Willis
4) Offering a robust airbridge from the US to the middle -east.
This can be the most likely option, because it would be necessary if large assets started flowing in the region, or at least the option to support such actions is now being introduced. This would include many types of aircraft and especially fighters. It can also be introduced to support and support global bomber’s missions from the Air Power from the United States to Iran.
American B-2s are the only known conventional assets that have the potential capacity to poorly switch or destroy Iran’s deepest underground components of its nuclear program. We have constantly emphasized this scenario for many years. Front positioning of a tank bridge that spans the Atlantic Ocean in the Middle East would be necessary to support those heavily loaded B-2 operations.
A B-2 Stealth bomber, assigned to the 509th bomb wing on Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, flies behind a KC-135 stratota tanker assigned to RAF Mildenhall, England. Photo by senior airman Thomas Barley Senior Airman Thomas Barley
This same bridge can also help American assets to get out of the region if the United States evacuates its vast bases there for fear of a massive Iranian bombing.
Unforeseen circumstances include:
-Out to deliver AR to IAF.
-Joining the kinetic offensive fight (offensive)
-Deal counter an attempt to close the street (defensive)
-message BM Links of launch interdiction/hunt (defensive)
-A robust bridge for the global aircraft bomber …– Tyler Rogway (@aviation_intel) June 16, 2025
It is worth noting that other assets also seem to move in the direction of Iran, including an American carrier Strike Group that enters the Indian Ocean from the South Chinese Sea while this is published.
We will just have to wait and see what all this is about. We have contacted the USAF for all the details that they can provide.
UPDATE:
We have a new confirmation about a wider American military structure in the middle and the tanker deployment that you view here in our new post.
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