Jon. Flight tracking, military news, Counter-Terror & geo-politics Founder @MATA_osint & @TheOsintBunker Podcast. All views my own. Senior Editor @UKDefJournal.
Glasgow, Scotland
Joined January 2019
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UPDATE: They're Coming Back Now... #IranWar
As of this morning, we're now at 17 tankers returned to Europe, and 3 more moved from US west coast to east coast in preparation to cross.
That's just in the last 48-72hrs.
Most of the airframes are ones that left in September...
@MATA_osint
They're Coming Back Now... #IranWar
As those of you who have been following me for a while know, one of the areas of build-up/monitoring I focus on is the USAF KC-135/KC-46 tanker fleets. Recently I noted a significant reduction in the numbers across Europe, while the number in CENTCOM remained relatively steady at ~100.
Well, following news that the Trump administration is considering new strikes at/around the midterm elections, I've noticed an increase in the number of tankers returning to Europe. In the last 36hrs alone, I've noted 11 returns specifically to European bases.
It is likely an indicator that preparations for further combat operations are indeed underway - ultimately the fast-jets and ISTAR platforms are still in place so things could start moving quite quickly!!
@MATA_osint
DefenceGeek 🇬🇧 retweeted
#GlobalThunder 27 is Underway
Each year, thousands of #USSTRATCOM warfighters team with the Joint Force, interagency and international #AlliesAndPartners for this Tier 1 training event, an intense force-wide exercise designed to challenge individuals and test the command and our components.
#GT27 is a long-planned, large-scale exercise that coincides with 24/7/365 real-world deterrence operations, so expect increased activity involving #USSTRATCOM equipment and warfighters.
stratcom.mil/Media/News/News…
DefenceGeek 🇬🇧 retweeted
Cue the doomers and preppers who see the NAOC and Mercury activity saying WWIII has begun.
There has been some unusual STRATCOM activity for about 2 months, leading up to GLOBAL THUNDER.
GT is STRATCOM's annual exercise testing various facets of various plans across the world and will involve continuity of government aircraft in addition to strategic bombers, who will likely make a run towards Russia or China.
#GlobalThunder 27 is Underway
Each year, thousands of #USSTRATCOM warfighters team with the Joint Force, interagency and international #AlliesAndPartners for this Tier 1 training event, an intense force-wide exercise designed to challenge individuals and test the command and our components.
#GT27 is a long-planned, large-scale exercise that coincides with 24/7/365 real-world deterrence operations, so expect increased activity involving #USSTRATCOM equipment and warfighters.
stratcom.mil/Media/News/News…
DefenceGeek 🇬🇧 retweeted
The Royal Air Force will equip its Chinook helicopters and A400M Atlas transport aircraft to fight fires, giving Britain an aerial firefighting capability permanently based in the United Kingdom for the first time. Click image for more.
ukdefencejournal.org.uk/raf-…
DefenceGeek 🇬🇧 retweeted
🚨 NEW: Andy Burnham has announced military planes and helicopters will be equipped to fight UK wildfires for the first time from next year
"We cannot put people through another summer like this one"
DefenceGeek 🇬🇧 retweeted
Denmark has selected Covenant's Anthem long-range precision strike system. 🇩🇰
We're proud to partner with DALO and @Forsvarsmin to strengthen Denmark's defence capabilities and advance affordable, scalable deep precision strike capabilities across Europe and @NATO.
fmn.dk/da/nyheder/2026/dansk…
DefenceGeek 🇬🇧 retweeted
Several Russian military freighters landed at Bushehr Air Base earlier today
Bushehr Province, Iran
[Delayed Post via FromIran · 120-second delay]
fromiran.sh1n.org/incidents/…
DefenceGeek 🇬🇧 retweeted
On April 14 Ohio ANG KC-135R Stratotanker 59-1444 from the 121st ARW arrived at Tinker after sustaining damage while deployed at PSAB. Advanced ADBR maintenance patched her up for the long flight back to depot. Today marks a new chapter for her. Eddie62 - hope to see you again!
DefenceGeek 🇬🇧 retweeted
Hardened aircraft shelters may form part of future infrastructure considerations at RAF Akrotiri, with options to improve aircraft survivability and operational resilience still being explored. Click image for more.
ukdefencejournal.org.uk/?p=7…
DefenceGeek 🇬🇧 retweeted
Czech President Petr Pavel says a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine was “quite close” – until Donald Trump lifted sanctions on Russian diesel.
vist.ly/5pf23
DefenceGeek 🇬🇧 retweeted
On October 22, 2026 less than 14 days after it’s arrival the USAF 8th Fighter Squadron F-117A Nighthawk (The Overachiever) is now on display at The Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum, Udvar Hazy Center.
Reg: 85-0818
Service Life: 1986-2007
Flight Hours: <5,000
DefenceGeek 🇬🇧 retweeted
Sentry Crossing to Europe #IranWar
E-3G "SHUCK80" 82-0007 #AE11F0 has completed a refuel at Bangor (KBGR) and is now en-route to Ramstein (ETAR) in Germany, despite bad weather predicted in the Atlantic near the UK tonight into tomorrow.
This aircraft originally tried to move to the Middle East several weeks ago but returned to Tinker (KTIK) with a reported burst tyre!
@MATA_osint
cc: @zephyrOsint @ArmchairAdml
DefenceGeek 🇬🇧 retweeted
Vanavond maakt een #Chinook
transporthelikopter in de gemeente @AmsterdamNL meerdere geplande buitenlandingen. #watvliegter
DefenceGeek 🇬🇧 retweeted
ICEYE and @Nokia announced today a partnership with The Ministry of Defence of Ukraine to develop sovereign satellite communications. ICEYE has supported Ukraine since 2022 and delivers sovereign space capability at speed. This builds on that.
Read more: hubs.li/Q04C3bj-0
DefenceGeek 🇬🇧 retweeted
UPDATE: Coronet Delivery 002
The further movement of the 3 F-35s (plus the one left over at Lajes from Coronet Delivery 094) was supposed to happen this morning, but for reasons currently unknown they have not left Lajes.
I have however now had confirmation of the 3 new jets:
F-35A "RETRO61" L-026 🇩🇰
F-35A "RETRO62" FL-014 🇧🇪
F-35A "RETRO64" JF-509 🇫🇮
The straggler from CQ094 was:
F-35A "RETRO63" JF-511 🇫🇮
Presumably they'll move to Europe at some point in the next few days!!
@MATA_osint @x_diogo_01 @Azorean_Lion @ArmchairAdml @AUX_OSINT @LatAmMilMVMTs @TheIntelFrog
UPDATE: Coronet Delivery 002 Underway!
A short while ago the 3x F-35A "Lightning II" jets arrived into Lajes (LPLA) completing part 1 of their delivery journey. The map below is the approximate route flown, accompanied by "BLUE01" for the first part up to the US east coast, and "BLUE02" out into the Atlantic.
@MATA_osint @ArmchairAdml @LatAmMilMVMTs @AUX_OSINT @steffanwatkins @vcdgf555 @Azorean_Lion @x_diogo_01
DefenceGeek 🇬🇧 retweeted
Putin just now according to TASS:
-The territories lost by Kyiv are not "their territory," but historically Russian lands.
-It is inappropriate for Kyiv to talk about any territorial losses. The residents of Donbass and Novorossiya voted to reunite with Russia.
-Russia has informed the United States that it is ready to resume trilateral negotiations on Ukraine.
-It has become clear to everyone that it is impossible to defeat Russia on the battlefield.
-Russia does not want to fight with Ukraine; it is Kyiv that wants to fight.
Hi @AaronParnas - the mention of a C-17 destroyed intrigued me, but I don't see the image of this in your article, so I've done some digging to see if I can find anything to confirm the claim.
The 2024 USAF Almanac by @ASForcesMag lists the C-17 fleet as 222 aircraft. A list I have in front of me is 222 aircraft, so in theory should be the same ones. A check through of public flight tracking data doesn't seem to indicate any that have abruptly stopped flying somewhere in the Middle East back in March/April - and some haven't flown in over 6 months (either retired or undergoing deep maintenance).
Would it be possible that the aircraft described here was actually a KC-135R - as we know that one was destroyed in the attack on Prince Sultan Airbase (OEPS) back in March 2026 and I've previously posted the identity of that airframe - it hasn't been tracked flying since the attack.
Hope this helps!
@MATA_osint
EXCLUSIVE: U.S. troops told us what the Pentagon hasn’t: destroyed aircraft, bombed barracks, families left behind in Bahrain, troops digging their own foxholes.
Never-before-seen photos and video from the Middle East. My latest with @MeidasTouch and @ValorMediaNet: meidasnews.com/news/so-much-…
Some genuinely astonishing photos in this article. h/t @AaronParnas and your team for pulling this together!
EXCLUSIVE: U.S. troops told us what the Pentagon hasn’t: destroyed aircraft, bombed barracks, families left behind in Bahrain, troops digging their own foxholes.
Never-before-seen photos and video from the Middle East. My latest with @MeidasTouch and @ValorMediaNet: meidasnews.com/news/so-much-…
DefenceGeek 🇬🇧 retweeted
#InMemoriam L’armée de l’Air et de l’Espace et ses Aviateurs expriment leurs plus sincères condoléances à la famille et aux proches du lieutenant-colonel Antranig Sarkissian et du lieutenant Quentin Klysz, morts en service aérien commandé.
DefenceGeek 🇬🇧 retweeted
19:01 STRIX 67 USAF MC-130/J Commando II (13-5786)
Airborne from RNAS Yeovilton after another Brief visit, looking to head over to the Daventry West entry for RTB to RAF Mildenhall.
#STRIX67 wkg Swanwick Mil 252.870
18:07 STRIX 67 USAF MC-130/J Commando II (13-5786)
Inbound to RNAS Yeovilton (again) from RAF Lossiemouth.
#STRIX67 wkg Swanwick Mil 252.870
