Significant U.S. Air Force fighter deployments toward the Middle East are underway this morning. Three KC-46A Pegasus aerial refueling tankers (ROMA01/02/03) are operating over the northeastern United States to support the transfer of 12 F-22 Raptors from the 1st Fighter Wing at Langley Air Force Base to RAF Lakenheath in the U.K. Meanwhile, six KC-135R Stratotankers and another KC-46A (CLEAN21/22/23/31/32/33) are preparing to escort 12 F-16CJs from the South Carolina Air National Guard’s 169th Fighter Wing at McEntire Joint National Guard Base to Naval Station Rota in Spain. In addition to these transatlantic movements—totaling at least 24 fighters—four Europe-based KC-135s (LAGER12/13 and LAGER10/14) are currently ferrying 12 F-16C Fighting Falcons from Aviano Air Base in Italy and 12 F-16CJs from Spangdahlem Air Base in Germany to locations in the Middle East. These deployments, involving more than 40 U.S. fighter aircraft, coincide with the movement of a U-2 reconnaissance aircraft out of the United Kingdom and the recent stopover of two E-3 airborne early warning and control aircraft en route to the region. The U-2 enhances data-link connectivity, allowing F-22s and F-35s to share information seamlessly, while the E-3 provides coordination and broad-area surveillance for potential foreign activity.