Six US Air Force F-22 Raptor stealth fighters have been tracked arriving in the United Kingdom, with the jets inbound to RAF Lakenheath supported by aerial refuelling tankers routing into RAF Mildenhall, open-source flight tracking data shows.
The movement was highlighted by UK Defence Journal senior editor Jon, who analysed publicly available tracking information to identify the aircraft and their support tankers.
Alongside the Raptors, data indicated movements by KC-46A Pegasus and KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft, part of the logistics and refuelling package that allows deployments of long-range fighter aircraft beyond North America. The arrivals at UK bases comes of course during a period of heightened transatlantic military activity, with additional US airpower and strike assets being positioned as part of a wider operational posture aimed at Iran.
Earlier this week reporting elsewhere had also showed the United States has been reinforcing its military presence in areas of strategic interest tied to rising tensions with Iran. The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and its strike group are operating in the Arabian Sea, accompanied by guided-missile destroyers and aviation elements, as part of what has been described as a significant force presence close to Iranian waters.
A second carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, has been ordered to prepare for deployment to the region, potentially placing two carrier strike groups within operational reach. The move follows US leaders indications that force posture is being adjusted as part of deterrence and contingency planning in response to Iranian actions and rhetoric.
In parallel, reporting elsewhere has also noted deployments of other air assets toward the Middle East, including additional fighter jets being repositioned to support broader operations. These developments coincide with indirect nuclear talks held in Geneva between US and Iranian officials, even as Iranian military drills were reported in and around the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.
I hope Starmer has the balls to tell them to f**k off when it comes to using British bases including Diego Garcia. Let’s see if Qatar is all up for bombing Iran from its bases or he can turn to Israel.
After the Iranian regimes murder of thousands of pro democracy protesters, I think it would be morally repugnant to try and prevent the American’s from bombing their military or nuclear program some more. But then again, this is the same man that rewarded Hamas by recognising a Palestinian state, where as smarter European states e.g. Germany didn’t do something that stupid
Not trying to stop them doing it I just don’t want to get dragged into a war because Trump wants to deflect from the Epstein files.
If they use Diego Garcia it means the UK is effectively declaring war on Iran.
We have more than enough to worry about in Europe now the US has made its position clear and stopped supporting Iran.
Considering how one sided the Israel and USA thumping of Iran was the last time around, I doubt they would need our ever “modest” capabilities to back them up.
Let them have at it and hopefully some of the mullahs become collateral damage
Everything you just said is pure hyperbole. Calm down and enjoy the one-sided bombing campaign that may follow. Thinking Iran is capable of waging anything like a war with the UK is silly.
Halfwit, you’re always around for key events… What’re they doing? 😀
As much as I dislike the fundamentalist Governnent in Iran for the US government to treat the U.K. and Europe like something they have scrapped off their shoe, while using our bases is beyond the pale. We are also inviting reprisal attack on the U.K.