One of the US Air Force's two RC-135U Combat Sent reconnaissance planes is crossing the Atlantic eastward, according to open-source flight trackers.
The aircraft, tail number 64-14849, is flying under the call sign COBRA49. Trackers say it left its home base at Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska on Tuesday, stopped at Pease in New Hampshire, and was spotted Wednesday near St. John's, Canada, heading east.
The Combat Sent is one of the most specialized intelligence platforms in the US arsenal. It locates, identifies and precisely measures enemy radars and air defense systems, including surface-to-air missile batteries. That data is used to build a picture of the threat and develop countermeasures. Both of the Air Force's Combat Sent planes belong to the 55th Wing at Offutt.
Its final destination has not been officially confirmed. Several OSINT accounts are linking the flight to tensions with Iran and suggesting it is bound for the CENTCOM area. Others say its first stop is likely RAF Mildenhall in Britain, a regular base for the aircraft on deployments.
The flight comes as President Trump told the Financial Times on Wednesday that the US has no immediate plans to strike Iran, but is "locked and loaded" if needed.
