Military Operation in North Atlantic, January 2026

Details of various flights relating to the operation by the United States' government and its military forces to seize various oil tankers, especially those in support of the action in the North Atlantic on 7^th January 2026 between Scotland and Iceland.

All information was obtained from publicly accessible sources.

Here, flights described as "dark" are those where all the aircraft's radio transmissions that might be used to identify and track the aircraft have been disabled.

The term "ops area" means "area of operations" and refers to the area around the tanker Bella 1 / Marinera.

Items shown in grey are not directly related to the North Atlantic action, but are part of the wider operation in the Caribbean.

Under the itinerary:

"Rafael Hernández" is an airport at Aguadilla, Puerto Rico
"Luis Muñoz Marín" is an airport an San Juan, Puerto Rico
"Henry Rohlsen" is an airport at St Croix, US Virgin Is.

type / role	serial, ident mission	active from	itinerary	notes
C-40C covert pax	21-0024, GENA17	2026‑01‑01	? \| RAF Fairford	Probably transporting command / liaison personnel to brief and organise local units in preparation for the operation. Flights into and out of RAF Fairford were 'dark'
C-40C covert pax	21-0024, AREA17	2026‑01‑02	RAF Fairford \| ?
C-17A heavy airlift	99-0169, RCH130 AAM6970Z1003	2026‑01‑03	Charleston AFB \| Pope AAF \| NAS Oceana \| RAF Fairford	Transporting US Army special forces personnel / equipment to RAF Fairford
C-17A heavy airlift	08-8198, RCH188 AAM6971Z1003	2026‑01‑03	RAF Fairford \| McGuire AFB	Aircraft operated dark in the early part of the mission. Itinerary shown from 2026-01-11: returning personnel / equipment from RAF Fairford, flight with Mode-S transponder switched off.
C-17A heavy airlift	09-9208, RCH161 AAM6972Z1003	2026‑01‑03	RAF Fairford \| Bangor \| ? \| Charleston AFB	Aircraft operated dark in the early part of the mission. Itinerary shown from 2026-01-12: returning personnel / equipment from RAF Fairford, flights with Mode-S transponders switched off.
C-17A heavy airlift	10-0214, RCH179	2026‑01‑03	RAF Fairford \| Bangor \| Campbell AAF \| Charleston AFB
C-17A heavy airlift	09-9210, RCH155 PAM6974Z1003	2026‑01‑03	McChord AFB \| Campbell AAF \| RAF Fairford \| Ramstein AB \| Bangor International \| Charleston AFB	Transporting US Army special forces personnel / equipment to RAF Fairford
C-17A heavy airlift	07-7175, RCH195 AAM6976Z1003	2026‑01‑03	Dover AFB \| Campbell AAF \| RAF Fairford \| Ramstein AB	Transporting US Army special forces personnel / equipment to RAF Fairford
C-17A heavy airlift	08-8202, RCH199 PAM6977Z1003	2026‑01‑03	McChord AFB \| Campbell AAF \| RAF Fairford \| Ramstein AB	Transporting US Army special forces personnel / equipment to RAF Fairford
C-17A heavy airlift	04-4132, RCH197 AAM6978Z1003	2026‑01‑03	McGuire AFB \| Hunter AAF \| RAF Fairford \| Ramstein AB \| McGuire AFB	Transporting US Army special forces personnel / equipment to RAF Fairford
C-17A heavy airlift	01-0191, RCH165 AAM6979Z1003	2026‑01‑03	Dover AFB \| Hunter AAF \| RAF Fairford \| Ramstein AB \| Dover AFB	Transporting US Army special forces personnel / equipment to RAF Fairford
C-17A heavy airlift	03-3126, RCH190 AAM6975Z1003	2026‑01‑04	McGuire AFB \| Campbell AAF \| RAF Fairford \| Ramstein AB \| McGuire AFB	Transporting US Army special forces personnel / equipment to RAF Fairford
C-17A heavy airlift	02-1111, RCH167 AAM6980Z1003	2026‑01‑04	McChord AFB \| Campbell AAF \| RAF Fairford \| Ramstein AB \| Bangor International \| McChord AFB	Transporting US Army special forces personnel / equipment to RAF Fairford
C-17A heavy airlift	06-6160, RCH122 PDN031100004	2026‑01‑04	Ramstein AB \| RAF Fairford \| Ramstein AB	Probably transporting USAF command and/or liaison personnel and their equipment.
C-17A heavy airlift	02-1106, RCH144 PDN051100004	2026‑01‑04	McChord AFB \| Fairchild AFB \| Dover AFB \| RAF Fairford \| Charleston AFB	Probably transporting USAF command and/or liaison personnel and their equipment.
C-17A heavy airlift	06-6164, RCH185 PAM6965Z1004	2026‑01‑04	Travis AFB \| Cannon AFB \| RAF Lakenheath \| Charleston AFB	Transporting USAF special forces personnel / equipment. Original plan was to fly to RAF Mildenhall, but that base wasn't prepared for the hazardous cargo, so aircraft diverted to RAF Lakenheath
C-17A heavy airlift	02-1110, RCH140 PAM6964Z1004	2026‑01‑04	McChord AFB \| Cannon AFB \| RAF Lakenheath \| Charleston AFB	Transporting USAF special forces personnel / equipment. Original plan was to fly to RAF Mildenhall, but diverted to RAF Lakenheath due to uncleared snow on ground
C-17A heavy airlift	99-0169, RCH404 AAM6968Z1004	2026‑01‑04	RAF Fairford \| Rafael Hernández \| Hunter AAF \| Charleston AFB	Returning US Army special forces personnel / equipment from operations in Caribbean area
C-17A heavy airlift	07-7186, RCH259 AAM6966Z1005	2026‑01‑04	Charleston AFB \| Rafael Hernández \| Charleston AFB	Returning forces personnel / equipment from operations in Caribbean area
C-17A heavy airlift	04-4137, RCH458 AAM6967Z1005	2026‑01‑05	Hurlbert Field \| ? \| Hunter AAF \| McGuire AFB	Returning US Army special forces personnel / equipment from operations in Caribbean area. Legs from Hurtlbert Field to Hunter AAF were 'dark'
C-17A heavy airlift	07-7175, RCH258 AAM6969Z1005	2026‑01‑05	Ramstein AB \| Rafael Hernández \| Hunter AAF \| Lawson AAF \| Dover AFB	Returning US Army special forces personnel / equipment from operations in Caribbean area
RC-135 recon	ZZ664, RRR7206	2026‑01‑06	RAF Waddington \| ops area \| RAF Waddington	RAF aircraft, probably gathering intelligence on signals from Russian naval vessels reported to be in the area around the tanker
C-146 spec ops	10-3068, DADDY11	2026‑01‑06	RAF Mildenhall \| RAF Fairford \| RAF Lossiemouth \| RAF Mildenhall	Probably transporting personnel commanding operations or liaising between special forces and other services
C-17A heavy airlift	08-8202, RCH200 PAM6981Z1005	2026‑01‑06	Ramstein AB \| Charleston AFB \| Rafael Hernández \| Pope AAF	Returning US Army special forces personnel / equipment from operations in Caribbean area
C-17A heavy airlift	09-9210, RCH698 PAM6983Z1006	2026‑01‑06	Charleston AFB \| Rafael Hernández \| Cannon AFB \| McChord AFB	Returning USAF special forces personnel / equipment from operations in Caribbean area
CV-22 spec ops	14-0072	2026‑01‑07	RAF Fairford \| Benbecula \| RAF Fairford	Two CV-22B Osprey tilt-rotor transport aircraft deployed to Benbecula for the start of the seizure operation. The majority of the flight outbound from RAF Fairford was dark. It's not known if these aircraft subsequently flew on into the ops area.
CV-22 spec ops	11-0058	2026‑01‑07	RAF Fairford \| Benbecula \| RAF Fairford
C-146 spec ops	10-3068, DADDY11	2026‑01‑07	RAF Mildenhall \| RAF Lossiemouth \| RAF Fairford \| RAF Mildenhall	Probably transporting personnel commanding operations or liaising between special forces and other services
KC-135 air refuel	60-0333, LAGR60 1PJ027U1U007	2026‑01‑07	RAF Mildenhall \| ops area \| RAF Mildenhall	The three KC-135 tanker aircraft operated in sequence through daylight hours. Probably refuelling US Navy P-8A maritime patrol aircraft monitoring and co-ordinating the operation.
KC-135 air refuel	60-0353, LAGR61 1PJ027U2U007	2026‑01‑07	RAF Mildenhall \| ops area \| RAF Mildenhall
KC-135 air refuel	59-1464, LAGR62 1PJ027U3U007	2026‑01‑07	RAF Mildenhall \| ops area \| RAF Mildenhall
C-146 spec ops	10-3068, DADDY11	2026‑01‑07	RAF Mildenhall \| Benbecula \| RAF Mildenhall	Probably transporting personnel supporting deployment of CV-22s at Benbecula
C-17A heavy airlift	03-3125, RCH127 PAM6985Z1006	2026‑01‑07	McGuire AFB \| Rafael Hernández \| Campbell AAF \| McGuire AFB	Returning US Army special forces personnel / equipment from operations in Caribbean area
C-17A heavy airlift	02-1106, RCH697 PAM6982Z1007	2026‑01‑07	Charleston AFB \| Rafael Hernández \| Palm Beach International \| Cannon AFB	Returning USAF special forces personnel / equipment from operations in Caribbean area. Original plan was to stop at MacDill AFB, but diverted to Palm Beach due to bad weather
C-17A heavy airlift	06-6165, RCH305 AAM6984Z1007	2026‑01‑07	Charleston AFB \| NS Mayport \| Pope AAF \| Campbell AAF \| Charleston AFB \| Dover AFB	Returning USAF special forces personnel / equipment from operations in Caribbean area
C-17A heavy airlift	06-6164, RCH228 PAM6987Z1007	2026‑01‑07	Charleston AFB \| Rafael Hernández \| Cannon AFB \| Travis AFB	Returning USAF special forces personnel / equipment from operations in Caribbean area
C-146 spec ops	10-3068, DADDY11	2026‑01‑08	RAF Mildenhall \| Benbecula \| RAF Mildenhall	Probably transporting personnel supporting deployment of CV-22s at Benbecula
C-17A heavy airlift	08-8202, RCH283 PAM6989Z1008	2026‑01‑08	Pope AAF \| Rafael Hernández \| Keesler AFB \| Hurlbert Field \| Charleston AFB \| McChord AFB	Returning USAF special forces personnel / equipment from operations in Caribbean area
C-17A heavy airlift	98-0056, RCH298 JAM6991Z1008	2026‑01‑08	Elmendorf AFB \| Rafael Hernández \| Hurlbert Field	Returning USAF special forces personnel / equipment from operations in Caribbean area
C-17A heavy airlift	02-1110, RCH699 PAM6990Z1008	2026‑01‑08	Charleston AFB \| Rafael Hernández \| Cannon AFB \| McChord AFB	Returning USAF special forces personnel / equipment from operations in Caribbean area
C-146 spec ops	10-3068, DADDY11	2026‑01‑09	RAF Mildenhall \| RAF Fairford \| RAF Lossiemouth \| RAF Mildenhall	Probably transporting personnel commanding operations or liaising between special forces and other services
C-17A heavy airlift	07-7175, RCH535 AAM6986Z1009	2026‑01‑09	Dover AFB \| Rafael Hernández \| Campbell AAF \| NAS Oceana	Returning US Army special forces personnel / equipment from operations in Caribbean area
C-17A heavy airlift	08-8197, RCH682 PAM6993Z1010	2026‑01‑10	McDill AFB \| Hunter AAF \| Lawson AAF \| Henry Rohlsen	Returning US Army special forces personnel / equipment from operations in Caribbean area
C-17A heavy airlift	08-8204, RCH140 AAM6994Z1011	2026‑01‑11	NAS Oceana \| Henry Rohlsen \| NAS Oceana	Returning US special forces personnel / equipment from operations in Caribbean area
C-17A heavy airlift	07-7175, RCH145 AAM6995Z1011	2026‑01‑11	NAS Oceana \| Pope AAF \| Henry Rohlsen \| Campbell AAF \| Dover AFB	Returning US Army special forces personnel / equipment from operations in Caribbean area
C-17A heavy airlift	07-7169, RCH278 AAM6910Z1014	2026‑01‑14	Ramstein AB \| Fairford AFB \| Prestwick \| Bangor \| NAS Oceana \| Pope AAF \| Dover AFB	Returning US special forces personnel / equipment from RAF Fairford
C-17A heavy airlift	06-6161, RCH409 PAM6902Z1014	2026‑01‑14	Ramstein AB \| Fairford AFB \| Bangor \| Campbell AAF \| Ramstein AB	Returning US Army special forces personnel / equipment from RAF Fairford
C-17A heavy airlift	06-6156, RCH275 PAM6905Z1014	2026‑01‑14	Ramstein AB \| Fairford AFB \| Bangor \| Lawson AAF \| Charleston AFB \| Ramstein AB	Returning US Army special forces personnel / equipment from RAF Fairford
C-17A heavy airlift	07-7175, RCH296	2026‑01‑15	Palm Beach \| RAF Fairford \| Bangor \| Campbell AAF \| Dover AFB	Returning US special forces personnel / equipment from RAF Fairford
C-17A heavy airlift	03-3124, RCH217 AAM6909Z1015	2026‑01‑16	RAF Mildenhall \| RAF Lakenheath \| Bangor \| Cannon AFB \| Charleston AFB	Returning USAF special forces personnel / equipment
C-17A heavy airlift	08-8195, RCH281 PAM6996Z1016	2026‑01‑16	McChord AFB \| Charleston AFB \| Rafael Hernández \| Cannon AFB \| McChord AFB	Returning USAF special forces personnel / equipment
C-17A heavy airlift	09-9209, RCH436 PAM6906Z1015	2026‑01‑16	Ramstein AB \| RAF Fairford \| Pease ANGB \| Hunter AAF \| McChord AFB	Returning US special forces personnel / equipment from RAF Fairford
C-17A heavy airlift	06-6168, RCH267 AAM6904Z1015	2026‑01‑16	RAF Fairford \| Bangor \| Campbell AAF \| Dover AFB	Returning US special forces personnel / equipment from RAF Fairford
C-17A heavy airlift	08-8203, RCH403 PAM6907Z1016	2026‑01‑16	RAF Fairford \| Campbell AAF	Returning US special forces personnel / equipment from RAF Fairford
C-17A heavy airlift	04-4130, RCH899 PAM6908Z1014	2026‑01‑16	Ramstein AB \| RAF Mildenhall \| Bangor \| Cannon AFB
C-17A heavy airlift	07-7176, RCH799 AAM6912Z1017	2026‑01‑17	Dover AFB \| Luis Muñoz Marín \| Charleston AFB	Returning US special forces personnel / equipment
C-17A heavy airlift	06-6157, RCH799 AAM6912Z1017	2026‑01‑20	Charleston AFB \| NAS Jacksonville
C-17A heavy airlift	08-8203, RCH403 PAM6992Z1017	2026‑01‑17	Campbell AAF \| Rafael Hernández \| Cannon AFB \| McChord AFB
C-17A heavy airlift	02-1110, RCH113 PAM6997Z1018	2026‑01‑18	McChord AFB \| Rafael Hernández \| MacDill AFB
C-17A heavy airlift	02-1105, RCH195 PAM6913Z1019	2026‑01‑19	Ramstein AB \| Luis Muñoz Marín \| NAS Jacksonville
C-17A heavy airlift	02-1110, RCH221 PAM6998Z1019	2026‑01‑19	MacDill AFB \| Rafael Hernández \| MacDill AFB
C-17A heavy airlift	02-1110, RCH579 PAM6999Z1021	2026‑01‑21	MacDill AFB \| Rafael Hernández

Flight data mainly from ADS-B Exchange.

Additional movement info from Fairford Movements and Mildenhall & Lakenheath Movements.

Mission info uses ACARS data from Airframes.