DefenceGeek 🇬🇧

Jon.
Flight tracking, military news, Counter-Terror & geo-politics
Founder @MATA_osint & @TheOsintBunker Podcast.
All views my own.
Senior Editor @UKDefJournal.

[DefenceGeek 🇬🇧 @DefenceGeek]

UPDATE: They're Coming Back Now... #IranWar

As of this morning, we're now at 17 tankers returned to Europe, and 3 more moved from US west coast to east coast in preparation to cross.

That's just in the last 48-72hrs.

Most of the airframes are ones that left in September...
@MATA_osint

[DefenceGeek 🇬🇧 @DefenceGeek]

They're Coming Back Now... #IranWar‌

As those of you who have been following me for a while know, one of the areas of build-up/monitoring I focus on is the USAF KC-135/KC-46 tanker fleets. Recently I noted a significant reduction in the numbers across Europe, while the number in CENTCOM remained relatively steady at ~100.

Well, following news that the Trump administration is considering new strikes at/around the midterm elections, I've noticed an increase in the number of tankers returning to Europe. In the last 36hrs alone, I've noted 11 returns specifically to European bases.

It is likely an indicator that preparations for further combat operations are indeed underway - ultimately the fast-jets and ISTAR platforms are still in place so things could start moving quite quickly!!

@MATA_osint

[DefenceGeek 🇬🇧 @DefenceGeek]

CORRECTION: Turns out theyve not used "RETRO61" for some reason:

[Mike B @jamjake01]

12.27 BLUE 04 KC-46 with RETRO 62/63/64/65 4 x F-35A 1 x Danish AF 1 x Belgian AF 2 x Finnish AF departed LPLA routing VLN - BZN - MAM on delivery working Swan Mil 278.600 Boom 268.300 A/A 246.800

[DefenceGeek 🇬🇧 @DefenceGeek]

UPDATE: Coronet Delivery 002 (and a +1)

A short while ago, the 4 F-35s for Europe at Lajes (LPLA) departed to begin the final leg of their delivery journey:

F-35A "RETRO61" L-026 🇩🇰
F-35A "RETRO62" FL-014 🇧🇪
F-35A "RETRO63" JF-509 🇫🇮
F-35A "RETRO64" JF-511 🇫🇮

supported by 2x KC-46A tankers from Lajes. They should arrive at their new homes in the coming hours.

@MATA_osint @ArmchairAdml @LatAmMilMVMTs @AUX_OSINT @TheAzorean_ @x_diogo_01

[Diogo @x_diogo_01]

23/10/2026 Takeoff 4x F-35 for delivery in order of departure 1 L-026🇩🇰 2 FL-014🇧🇪3 JF-509🇫🇮 4 JF-511🇫🇮 at Lajes Field @DefenceGeek @MATA_osint @ArmchairAdml @AUX_OSINT @LatAmMilMVMTs @jurgen142785553 @FinnishAirForce #Takeoff #F35 #F35delivery

[Think Defence @thinkdefence]

Some might say, am a bit of an influencer 😀

[Defense of Ukraine @DefenceU]

🇺🇦🤝🇩🇰 Thank you, Denmark!

Denmark has delivered more than 50,000 rounds of 20 mm ammunition to Ukraine on an expedited basis for the onboard cannons of F-16 fighter jets. Ukrainian pilots are already using them to intercept jet-powered attack drones.

“We are grateful to Denmark for its quick and effective response to our request for additional ammunition. This speed matters directly for strengthening Ukraine’s air defence and protecting people from Russian air attacks,” Minister of Defence Evgeniy Khmara said.

Aviation, and the F-16 in particular, is currently one of the most effective means of countering jet-powered Shaheds. Destroying them effectively requires sufficient stocks of ammunition.
@JeppeBruus @Forsvarsmin

[DefenceGeek 🇬🇧 @DefenceGeek]

3 RAF "Typhoon" jets deployed to France on 19th October 2026 to participate in this exercise with French forces:

Typhoon FGR.4 "RFR70000" ZK373 #43C79B
Typhoon FGR.4 "RFR70001" ZK425 #43C7A2
Typhoon FGR.4 "RFR70002" ZK309 #43C740

@MATA_osint @UKDefJournal @UKForcesTracker @ArmchairAdml

[Etienne Marcuz @Etienne_Marcuz]

🇫🇷🇬🇧☢️ The French Minister of the Armed Forces has just announced that British Eurofighter combat aircraft took part in a French nuclear exercise for the first time.

This is a revolution for the Strategic Air Forces (FAS), which have always operated in complete autonomy since their creation in the 1960s. It is worth noting, however, that two FAS Rafale B aircraft had already conducted a joint exercise with two German Eurofighters this summer.

This exercise puts the Northwood Declaration, signed in July 2025, into concrete effect — a declaration that specifically opened the way to operational cooperation in the field of nuclear deterrence.

The released photos show at least one British Eurofighter equipped only with short-range ASRAAM air-to-air missiles and fuel tanks.

The scope of the exercise remains unknown. It may have been exercise BELOTE 2026-04, which was scheduled for this Tuesday at night (with a reserve slot on Wednesday). BELOTE is a kind of "mini-POKER" and is likely used for the qualification of new crews so that they can then take part in the POKER operation. If this is indeed the case, it paves the way for British crews to take part in the next POKER. However, no activity was visible on @ADSBex during these two days, which is very unusual.

Edit: It seems that the name of the exercise was "RUMMY", which is also a card game, like BELOTE and POKER.

Picture : A RAF Eurofighter taking off alongside a Rafale B from the 4th wing (FAS) - Credits Ministère des Armées

[DefenceGeek 🇬🇧 @DefenceGeek]

French Counter-Terrorism investigators looking into a shooting in Trappes this morning - 1 dead, 4 injured

[Agence France-Presse @afpfr]

🇫🇷 Le parquet national antiterroriste (Pnat) a annoncé se saisir des faits commis par un homme qui a tiré en rafales dans la rue vendredi matin depuis sa voiture à Trappes, dans les Yvelines, tuant une personne et en blessant au moins quatre.

[DefenceGeek 🇬🇧 @DefenceGeek]

@PolakwKanadzie You follow me?

[DefenceGeek 🇬🇧 @DefenceGeek]

How did it catch fire AP?
What caused it to catch fire?

[The Associated Press @AP]

Romanian authorities said a search and rescue mission is underway in the Black Sea after a cargo ship caught fire, leaving one dead and three missing. https://t.co/lppUP2svO3

[Armchair Admiral 🇬🇧 @ArmchairAdml]

#RAF Royal Air Force

Boeing E-7A Wedgetail AEW.1 1x
#43C97A WT001 - BOEING 30

An RAF Wedgetail AEW.1 is conducting another test flight this morning from RAF Lossiemouth.

@MATA_osint

[Mike B @jamjake01]

10.38 ASCOT 7223 RC-135 ZZ664 rtb to Waddington requesting ILS Rwy 20 Touch and go for further working Swan Mil 259.600

[DefenceGeek 🇬🇧 @DefenceGeek]

More video of their departure from Lajes:
https://t.co/r2b2SVYhGB

[Diogo @x_diogo_01]

Flyby 4x F-35 Lightning II for delivery L-026🇩🇰 FL-014🇧🇪 JF-509🇫🇮 JF-511🇫🇮 at Lajes Field @DefenceGeek @MATA_osint @ArmchairAdml @AUX_OSINT @LatAmMilMVMTs @jurgen142785553 @FinnishAirForce #Flyby #F35

[Diogo @x_diogo_01]

Flyby 4x F-35 Lightning II for delivery L-026🇩🇰 FL-014🇧🇪 JF-509🇫🇮 JF-511🇫🇮 at Lajes Field @DefenceGeek @MATA_osint @ArmchairAdml @AUX_OSINT @LatAmMilMVMTs @jurgen142785553 @FinnishAirForce #Flyby #F35

[Diogo @x_diogo_01]

23/10/2026 Takeoff 4x F-35 for delivery in order of departure 1 L-026🇩🇰 2 FL-014🇧🇪3 JF-509🇫🇮 4 JF-511🇫🇮 at Lajes Field @DefenceGeek @MATA_osint @ArmchairAdml @AUX_OSINT @LatAmMilMVMTs @jurgen142785553 @FinnishAirForce #Takeoff #F35 #F35delivery

[Owl Insight @owl_insight_]

Incoming video at the scene of OBO carrier “KHORYV” incident: vessel is capsized and highly likely sinking, Multi Purpose Offshore Vessel “SARTOR” (IMO: 9087312) and Patrol 1850 class patrol vessel “MAI 3064” are rendering assistance.

CC @InsiderGeo, @DefenceGeek, @KyleJGlen

[GeoInsider @InsiderGeo]

As I said several times, little by little, things that would have been unacceptable yesterday become the new normal today.

First, we saw more drones entering or crashing in Moldova and Romania. Then we got used to almost daily air alerts, sometimes three or four in a single day in Poland. Now we are dealing with commercial ships being attacked in the Black Sea, with people killed, injured and missing.

And every time, the same argument comes up: "You’re not going to war over a drone" or "You’re not going to war over a ship." Of course, nobody wants a war. But this is also how hybrid warfare works: Governments are trapped between two pressures. If they act, people accuse them of risking a wider war. If they don’t, people ask how much more they are willing to tolerate. Every decision is a "problem"

But while everyone debates whether each incident justifies a response, the overall situation keeps escalating. And eventually, what was once considered an unacceptable provocation becomes something we have learned to live with. Until the next escalation pushes the limits even further.

[Ian Ellis @ianellisjones]

Iran is rebuilding Eagle 44, a hardened underground airbase carved into the side of a mountain that can shelter fighter aircraft, drones, and potentially cruise and ballistic missiles, despite the remote facility absorbing at least three rounds of airstrikes this year.

High-resolution satellite imagery captured by Planet Labs in late September and reviewed by TWZ shows a new section of taxiway completed, several support buildings still destroyed or damaged, wrecked equipment cleared off the pavement, and obstacles that were placed to obstruct the runway now removed.

Construction is ongoing at a time when the Pentagon and Trump administration maintain there is little remaining of the Iranian air force for such a facility to protect.

Full report on TWZ: https://t.co/I4fXOVGmuo

[Forces Spéciales Françaises 🌟 @Fs_francaises_]

Le 23 octobre 1983, 58 parachutistes français des 1er et 9e RCP ont été assassinés à Beyrouth dans l'attentat du Drakkar.

Un attentat meurtrier au camion piégé, attribué au Hezbollah, commanditée par l'Iran via le Hezbollah, en représailles directes au soutien de la France à l'Irak.

58 héros morts pour la France. Nous n'oublions pas. 🇫🇷🖤

[Navy Lookout @NavyLookout]

Ministers now seem less confident that the first DragonFire laser-directed energy weapon will be fitted to a Type 45 destroyer next year, as previously promised. @LukePollard @_AndersonStuart

https://t.co/fix9bhetvi

https://t.co/V5eWsxbvJF

[Canadian Armed Forces @CanadianForces]

Following the tragic incident at CFB Wainwright, we remain focused on supporting injured members, their families, and all those impacted. 27 members are still in hospital, and 12 members have been released from hospital.

https://t.co/GZY85PeqKK

[Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian @manniefabian]

The two Palestinian gunmen who carried out this morning's shooting on the outskirts of Hebron in the southern West Bank are believed by the military to have initially planned their attack on Israeli civilians.

The pair, both from Hebron, arrived by car at around 7:30 a.m. at a temporary checkpoint set up by the army at the exit to Hebron. The soldiers stationed there, from the Home Front Command's 775th "Ari" Search and Rescue Battalion, were conducting routine checks on Palestinian cars leaving the city.

The IDF believes that the gunmen realized they would not be able to reach the Route 35 highway and target Israeli civilians there, and instead decided to open fire at the checkpoint.

The pair exited their car on a side street near the checkpoint armed with an assault rifle and a pistol, and using the buildings as cover, opened fire on the checkpoint, according to a preliminary probe.

The clash between the gunmen and IDF troops lasted over 20 minutes, during which five Israelis were wounded, including two critically and three in light-to-moderate condition.

The deputy commander of the Ari Battalion, a company commander, and an officer of the Paratroopers Brigade's 101st Battalion who was stationed nearby and rushed to the scene, flanked the two gunmen and killed them.

The IDF says it later found a large quantity of ammunition in their vehicle, and believes that the checkpoint thwarted their plan to carry out a mass-casualty attack on Israeli civilians on Route 35.

The military's probe has so far found that there was no specific advance warning of the attack, but the IDF is already on heightened alert ahead of the election and amid the olive harvest in the West Bank/

The IDF and Shin Bet are meanwhile investigating if the two gunmen acted alone, or were part of a larger terror network and received funding and direction from a terror group.