US Tankers Depart Mildenhall Base in Britain

Ten US Tankers Depart Mildenhall Base in Britain

Ten American KC-135 tanker aircraft departed Mildenhall Air Base in the UK on November 9, the BBC reported, citing Flightradar24 data. The aircraft headed to bases in Germany, Spain, and Scotland.

Newsroom golos.media10 November 2026 at 15:061 min read

Mildenhall and Lakenheath air bases have been elevated to FPCON Charlie protection level, Reuters reported, citing The Wall Street Journal and a US official. The publication does not specify whether the aircraft movement and the increased protection level are related.

A UK Ministry of Defence spokesperson told Reuters that the department does not comment on the activities of other states. According to the spokesperson, aircraft and other assets are regularly moved in accordance with operational requirements.

Previously, US military aircraft departed another British base — RAF Fairford. According to the BBC, about a dozen B-1 bombers were redeployed from there to the US in October 2026.

Three CV-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft also departed Mildenhall, the Hong Kong newspaper South China Morning Post reported, citing Sky News. Sources did not specify where these aircraft were headed.

In reports on the movement of the tankers, The Wall Street Journal linked their withdrawal to a threat from Iran; this version was recounted by several media outlets. Reuters also reported on the increased protection level of the bases, citing the newspaper's publication and a US official. The British ministry did not confirm a connection between these circumstances.