Armada Of USAF Tankers Just Deployed East Over Atlantic Spurring Speculation

[douglas9]

Over two dozen U.S. Air Force KC-135R and KC-46A tankers from across the United States appeared on flight-tracking software yesterday evening, taking off from their bases and heading east over the Atlantic. It isn’t clear if they were ‘dragging’ any combat aircraft with them, but there wasn’t any obvious signs of that.

While tanker movements in this direction are far from abnormal, such a large, near-simultaneous migration of the jets was very peculiar, especially at a time of extreme crisis in the Middle East. The exact reason for the mass deployment is unclear, although many of the potential answers would indicate a change, or preparations for a potential change, in the current conflict between Israel and Iran.

Open-source enthusiasts took to social media after all the tankers began popping up on flight tracking software. At its peak, it appeared that at least 28 tankers were all heading east. While there is a multinational exercise in Norway that is about to kick off, that wouldn’t require anything like this level of relocation of refueling assets. There is no other apparent exercise or commitment that would necessitate such an operation. On the other hand, these are precisely the assets that would be needed if the United States were going to change its support of Israel’s Operation Rising Lion, or if there were urgent concerns that the conflict is about to widen significantly.

https://www.twz.com/air/armada-of-usaf-tankers-just-deployed-east-over-atlantic-spurring-speculation

[Irish_Dem]

1. These are air refueling aircraft, they help fighter, bombers, recon fly greater distances.

So what are they doing? Who are they helping?

[taxi]

2. Let's check our friends list and see

NATO Countries - No, not on list
Ukraine - No, not on list
Greenland - No, not on list
We seem to be running out of friends here. I've got no idea where they would be going.

[Irish_Dem]

5. They are helping someone who needs to fly very long distances on covert missions over enemy territory.

[ananda]

9. Gee, let me guess.

Would it begin with an R and end with an A?

[sir pball]

10. No

US/NATO and Russian aerial refueling systems aren't compatible.

[ananda]

11. OK, well what then?

???

[sir pball]

13. I've no idea who it's for, but it can't be Russia nt

[ananda]

16. Well, that was the only country I could think of.

I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

[EX500rider]

18. I'd guess in case we start to help bomb Iran nt

[ananda]

20. You know what this means, right?

Trump apears to be planning for us to help Israel
wage war against Iran.

This will be an undeclared war with no congressional
approval...

and completely unconstitutional.

[kerry-is-my-prez]

22. Yep. It would be nice if it was for Ukraine but we know that's not going to happen.

[EX500rider]

23. Not really, he has 60 days under the War Powers Act

Also may just be prepositioning some assets in case Iran follows thru on its threats.

[Irish_Dem]

12. Which countries in the area have compatible systems for aerial refueling?

Last edited Mon Jun 16, 2025, 11:52 AM - Edit history (1)

Which country would be flying long distance covert missions over enemy territory?

[sir pball]

14. Any NATO country would be able to use these tankers.

Not sure about other nations (Israel), but it wouldn't surprise me if non-NATO but Western-aligned forces would maintain compatibility.

[ananda]

17. It's extremely unlikely to be for any NATO country.

Not with Trump's history regarding NATO.

[NickB79]

24. Israeli F-35's and F-16's

The same planes NATO flies.

[Irish_Dem]

25. A country which coincidentally is flying long distant covert combat missions

and in need of aerial refueling.

[taxi]

27. Yeah, because some kids never learn not to run with scissors or poke hornet nests.

A little bit of strudel and Sargeant Schultz (of Hogan's Heroes) will be saying, "I see nothing, nothing."

[johnnyfins]

3. Let's also keep an eye on the hardware

In D.C. and make sure it's on the way OUT.

[unc70]

4. I noticed them around midnight and posted on DU

A couple of other DUers posted threads overnight. One of DU's strengths is all of us watching a huge variety of things and sharing here what we find.

BTW some of those supertankers are now over Greece.

[gab13by13]

6. I hope Krasnov got permission from Putin to do this,

if it involves helping Israel. Iran is an ally of Russia, and Pakistan just came out with a statement that if Israel uses a nuclear weapon against Iran, it will use a nuclear weapon against Israel.

Iran is no Afghanistan, Iraq, or Yemen. Iran can do damage to US foreign bases.

One has to be careful about information coming out during the fog of war.

[multigraincracker]

7. My view is it may have something to do with

Oil, again.

[BoRaGard]

8. "Which way to Armageddon?" - G.O.P. Aiir Forrce, Inc.

"We must kill, kill, kill for Christ and oil."

- Krasnov (R-Felon/Rapist) and G.O.P. KristoKronies

[wishstar]

15. Reuters' has reported this afternoon based on unnamed US officials

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-bolsters-military-options-trump-with-refueling-aircraft-officials-say-2025-06-16/

"US military strengthens air power amid Iran-Israel conflict
Deployment includes refueling aircraft and aircraft carrier Nimitz, officials say"

[EX500rider]

19. yeah that was my guess

Getting assets in area in case we start flying B-2's out of Diego Garcia, that's 3,300 miles each way to Tehran.

B-2's need special hangers and they wouldn't want them any closer due to Iranian IRBM's

They'd be the choice for dropping the GBU-57A/B MOP's on deep underground facilities. Too heavy for F-35's.
(The GBU-57A/B MOP-Massive Ordnance Penetrator is a precision-guided, 30,000-pound "bunker buster" bomb)

Also any strike package might go in with Wild Weasels (Jamming+ SAM hunting), F-35's for top cover and B-2/B-1/B52's dropping ordnance, would need a lot of tankers up.

[Irish_Dem]

26. B-2 can fly 6900 miles without refueling. With refueling it can fly anywhere on the planet in hours.

So round trip from DG to Tehran is 6600 miles, I think that is cutting it a bit close.
This is why they need the tankers.

[JoseBalow]

21. Lube?

[cliffside]

28. knr nt