It was even more refueling tankers than previously reported.
The number of tanker aircraft that took off from their home base overnight after the takeoff of the planes from New Jersey increased to 32.A significant number of the aircraft were sent to Moron Air Base in Spain, the rest to the UK, Germany, Italy and one to Estonia. Several aircraft were sent to the CENTCOM area of responsibility.In the context of the rather unusual air activity, there are suggestions that the planes were heading to Europe to take part in the Atlantic Trident 25 exercise, which is scheduled to involve 40 aircraft from the US, UK, French and Finnish air forces.The following two points may indicate the opposite version: the almost simultaneous take-off of such a significant number of tankers, which is not required for the exercises, and Spain as the final destination of the route.Spain is noteworthy because American strategic bombers flying to the Middle East usually fly across the Atlantic to the Mediterranean through the Strait of Gibraltar and on into the region. In this way, they remain in international airspace the entire way, without notifying European countries.We will not rush to make statements about plans to involve American strategic aviation in the Israeli operation or about joining tankers to refuel Israeli aviation, but the activity is interesting. Let us just add the news about the beginning of the movement of the USS Nimitz (CVN-68) carrier strike group from the ITR to the Middle East.
You don't send 30+ tankers to a NATO exercise with only 40 planes, they're clearly setting up for something big. Parking them in Spain points to preparation for a large strike on Iran with strategic bombers.
