Sh1n reposted an October 21, 2026, U.S. tanker fleet update from @DefenceGeek, with @MATA_osint tagged.

The update reports that overall tanker numbers across CENTCOM and Europe have stabilized at approximately 190–195 aircraft, returning to levels recorded at the beginning of September. Several additional tankers are temporarily positioned at Glasgow Prestwick and Aviano for ongoing exercises or preparations for other movements.

More than 90 KC-135 and KC-46 tankers have now made a second or third return trip to CENTCOM or Europe.

The post quoted @DefenceGeek’s October 14 update, which reported that earlier tanker withdrawals were being reversed. Nearly two dozen airframes had returned to Europe during the preceding week as the United States indicated an intent to resume combat operations in the near future.

As of October 14, @DefenceGeek had tracked 340 KC-46 and KC-135 tankers deploying to Europe or CENTCOM at least once during the Iran War, an increase of 11. Of those, 87 had deployed at least twice, an increase of 25.