Israel-Iran War

[Established02]

Yesterday I saw 2 USAF KC135s making a roundtrip over Jordan airspace out of their base in Crete.

Now I see this French(?) A330 tanker on approach to one of the air bases in northeast Jordan. This A330MRTT took off this morning from Istres Air Force Base, near Marseille.

Both observations suggest that not only the Americans, but also the Europeans are possibly already actively involved in the conflict, albeit in a merely supportive role to the Israelis.

[Homo Aeroportus]

This is an MRTT so probably for an evac mission. Advice was given to french "expats" to leave Israel for Jordan by road.
Currently also two German AF A400M from Wunstorf heading for East Med, south of Cyprus.

But you are right about the tankers. On tuesday evening, a french KC-135R from Istres was loitering south of Cyprus, in all likelyhood helping their US colleagues who have been sent not only from the 100thARW at RAF Mildenhall but also a dozen from CONUS. Seen GOLD32, -42, -72 and -92, all KC-46 normally based at McGuire NJ.

I guess they were all delivering gas in support of the evasion of US fighters from the Gulf area.
Iran is a serious threat to them, having placed their country borders aggressively close to US air bases.

H.A.

[Homo Aeroportus]

The two German AF A400M are already on the way back home.
They went to TLV.

There is also a French A&SF A400M nearby. It seems they took-off from Prince Hassan AFB where a couple of Rafale are based.

H.A.

[sn26567]

The RAF is also actively flying between Brize Norton (UK) and Akrotiri (Cyprus).

[Rhatake]

This is an MRTT so probably for an evac mission. Advice was given to french "expats" to leave Israel for Jordan by road.
Currently also two German AF A400M from Wunstorf heading for East Med, south of Cyprus.

But you are right about the tankers. On tuesday evening, a french KC-135R from Istres was loitering south of Cyprus, in all likelyhood helping their US colleagues who have been sent not only from the 100thARW at RAF Mildenhall but also a dozen from CONUS. Seen GOLD32, -42, -72 and -92, all KC-46 normally based at McGuire NJ.Nulls brawl

I guess they were all delivering gas in support of the evasion of US fighters from the Gulf area.
Iran is a serious threat to them, having placed their country borders aggressively close to US air bases.

H.A.

Can you explain the difference in roles between the A400M and the A330 MRTT? One seems to be for cargo/transport and the other a tanker, but the post mentions an A400M going to TLV and an A330 being an 'evac mission,' which makes me think there's more to it than just fuel

[sn26567]

Can you explain the difference in roles between the A400M and the A330 MRTT? One seems to be for cargo/transport and the other a tanker, but the post mentions an A400M going to TLV and an A330 being an 'evac mission,' which makes me think there's more to it than just fuel

MRTT means Multi-Role Tanker Transport. It is indeed a tanker, but its other multi-role capabilities are the transport of military (380 soldiers), passengers (300 in single class) and cargo (242 tonnes), medical evacuation (130 stretchers), etc.

[Lux_avi]

and cargo (242 tonnes)

That's quite incorrect

[sn26567]

and cargo (242 tonnes)

That's quite incorrect

My mistake: 242 tonnes is the maximum weight at take-off. The freight capacity is 8 NATO pallets (120 m³)