>>507542880
Several US Air Force KC-46A Pegasus and KC-135 Stratotankers are east bound under similar call sign RCH0##. We've seen tanker aircraft increasingly carrying RCH### call signs on positioning/ferry flights recently
>>507543863
In a parallel universe they're flying to Israel to put boots on the ground in Tel Aviv for Operation Levantine Freedom, re-education camps for Israelis, regime change against Bibi, and putting his admin and the Knesset up for military tribunals
>>507543863
The fact that every single one of these are stratotankers and are heading in the same direction basically confirms that it isnβt some sort of routine exercise.
You canβt mention the umpteen-bajillion refueling planes and not point out that Air Force One made a bee line to Canada and is running without a callsign..
The 24 US tanker aircraft are likely heading to Finland for Atlantic Trident 25, a multinational exercise with the US, UK, France, and Finland from June 16-27, 2025. Their purpose is to provide aerial refueling for fighter jets, supporting NATO readiness and deterrence
>>507551354
I've participated in 4 exercises with the USAF and I have never seen them deploy the night before the exercise begins.
They usually deploy days before so they can pre-establish groundcrew operations, get the aircrew and maintenance crews into proper lodging, and fix any issues that came up during the flight.
Also, I've never seen them deploy that many refuelers.