A notable deployment of United States Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles is currently in progress towards the United Kingdom, based on publicly available flight monitoring data.
A contingent of ten F-15E jets originating from Seymour Johnson Air Force Base are thought to be traversing the Atlantic, aided by a sizable mid-air replenishment operation. A pair of jets from the identical squadron reached RAF Lakenheath previously this week, while the other aircraft are presently en route.
These transfers were initially detected by DefenceGeek, Jon, an open-source intelligence specialist and a member of the UK Defence Journal editorial staff. By utilizing accessible flight monitoring information and tanker identifiers, he determined that the aircraft are proceeding in two synchronized groups.
Comprising the initial formation are six F-15Es identified by the designations TABOR61 through TABOR66, with assistance from KC-135 and KC-46A tankers bearing the CLEAN series callsigns. Of particular note, a pair of these refuellers departed from Lajes in the Azores, which serves as a frequent assembly area for fighter aircraft traversing the Atlantic. Furthermore, a second group comprises four more F-15E jets, TABOR71 through TABOR74, also aided by KC-135 aircraft. Later monitoring reports confirmed that all ten jets were definitively heading towards the UK.
UPDATE: Confirmed we have 10x F-15E from SJ inbound to the UK #FreeIran
— “Operation LION & SUN” —Cell 1:
F-15E “TABOR61”
F-15E “TABOR62”
F-15E “TABOR63”
F-15E “TABOR64”
F-15E “TABOR65”
F-15E “TABOR66”Cell 2:
KC-135R “CLEAN13” 60-0364 #AE0663
F-15E “TABOR71”
F-15E… https://t.co/tFEz50Pxbp— DefenceGeek 🇬🇧 (@DefenceGeek) February 27, 2026