Overview
- At least 12 A-10C Thunderbolt IIs from Michigan’s 107th Fighter Squadron landed at RAF Lakenheath on Monday, with flight tracking showing more aircraft from Idaho joining the transatlantic push.
- The forward movement through the U.K. positions the jets to head into U.S. Central Command’s area, where officials say A-10s are already patrolling the Strait of Hormuz and striking militia targets in Iraq.
- Gen. Dan Caine confirmed the aircraft are hunting and destroying Iranian fast‑attack boats, while CENTCOM imagery shows A-10s refueling in flight and flying with Mavericks, laser‑guided rockets and Sidewinders.
- Tankers out of Bangor, Maine, and RAF Mildenhall supported the ocean crossings, and U.K. bases at Lakenheath, Mildenhall and Fairford are serving as the staging network for the larger deployment.
- Congress paused planned A-10 retirements in December, preserving the inventory that now enables this surge, even as Iranian state media released warnings and U.S. officials characterized the moves as reinforcing ongoing operations rather than a confirmed ground push.