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The UK has moved a small contingent of F-35B Lightning stealth fighter jets to RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus amid growing tensions involving Iran, based on publicly available flight tracking information.
The aircraft reportedly flew from RAF Marham in eastern England and were supported en route by RAF Voyager tanker aircraft, which provided aerial refuelling during the journey.
RAF Akrotiri is already a major hub for British air operations in the Middle East and has frequently been used to support missions across the region. This latest deployment increases the UK’s air assets at the base, with the additional aircraft believed to be focused on strengthening defensive coverage. The reported priority is monitoring the airspace around the base and being prepared to respond to potential airborne threats.
The movement was first spotted through open-source flight monitoring, with defence observers highlighting the activity online. UK officials have reportedly confirmed that six F-35Bs were transferred and that the deployment is not linked to Operation SHADER, the UK’s long-running mission against ISIS. Instead, the aircraft are said to be connected specifically to the rising tensions involving Iran.
With information from UK Defence Journal and @DefenceGeek X.
