One of the United States’ (U.S.) two highly specialised spy aircraft designed to identify enemy radar systems has landed in Britain on an undisclosed location amid fears that the U.S. could renew military strikes against Iran.
The RC-135U Combat Sent reconnaissance aircraft, operating under the COBRA49, was tracked crossing the Atlantic Ocean on Wednesday before landing at RAF Mildenhall at Suffolk, England.
According to flight tracking data, the plane departed Portsmouth International Airport in New Hampshire at 1:51 a.m. Eastern Time and flew for six hours and 42 minutes before landing in the UK.
The aircraft, identified by its tail number 64-14849, had previously travelled from Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska, where both of the US Air Force’s Combat Sent aircraft are stationed.
Unlike conventional spy planes, the RC-135U is equipped with sophisticated electronic surveillance systems capable of detecting, identifying and analysing foreign military radars.
The intelligence gathered by the plane helps the US forces in understanding the enemy air defence networks and develop ways to evade or defeat them during military operations.
Its arrival in Britain comes amid renewed tension between Washington and Tehran, with speculations mounting over the possibility of another round of American strikes against Iran.
However, President Donald Trump told the Financial Times on Tuesday that the US had no immediate plans to attack Iran, although American forces remained prepared to act if necessary.
The aircraft’s next destination and operational assignment have not been publicly discolsed. While military observers have suggested it could eventually head towards the Middle East, its presence in the UK does not establish an imminent attack.
According to the US Air Force, Combat Sent aircraft are deployed for intelligence gathering during peacetime as well as military operations.
