Executive Summary
Military air activity remained elevated across multiple theaters over the past 24 hours, with notably high sortie rates over the North Sea, Baltic, and Gulf region. NATO E-3 AWACS aircraft were active over Germany and the Netherlands, while RAF and USAF RC-135 Rivet Joint ISR platforms conducted coordinated missions with tanker support over the UK and Europe. On the combat side, two Russian Su-35s collided over Kursk Oblast, Ukrainian drones struck Russian airbases at Saky and Taganrog damaging a Su-24 and starting fires, and satellite imagery confirmed destruction of U.S. barracks at Kuwait's Ali Al Salem Air Base from an earlier Iranian missile/drone attack.
Key Events
- NATO AWACS surge over Central Europe: Multiple E-3TF AWACS launches tracked from Geilenkirchen, Bad Lausick, Elsterberg (Germany), and Hoensbroek (Netherlands), indicating sustained NATO airborne surveillance posture. → link
- Russian Su-35 mid-air collision over Kursk Oblast: Two Su-35S fighters reportedly collided; at least one pilot ejected. → link
- Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian airbases: Saky Airbase hit overnight (Su-24 damaged), Taganrog flight line on fire with FIRMS confirmation; 3 Russian helicopters reportedly destroyed at Sochi Airport (Sept 4). → link → link
- RAF RC-135 Rivet Joint active with tanker support: ASCOT 7207 (#43C39D, ZZ666) refuelled by USAF KC-135 LAGER 51 in AARA8; separately, RAF Rivet Joint refuelled from French A330 MRTT in tri-nation exercise. → link → link
- USAF RC-135S Cobra Ball transited through Yokota AB (Japan), en route from Alaska to Kadena AB. → link
- B-1B Lancer sortie from RAF Fairford: Two B-1Bs (STUMP 44/45) returned to Fairford after local sortie and aerial refuelling with French tankers PICO64/65 from Avord AB. → link
- Satellite imagery confirms Ali Al Salem Air Base damage: Two U.S. personnel barracks destroyed between Aug 25 and Sep 3, consistent with IRGC claim of missile/drone strike on Sept 2. → link
- P-8 Poseidon activity globally: Multiple launches tracked — UK (FALCN03, GURNY02, CRONS01 from Lossiemouth/Elgin), India (HL27M from Mirpur Sakro, KL46B from Keeramangalam), Australia (ASY176 from Port Augusta), Japan (from Ishikawa), and Portugal P-3 ORION01 from Beja. → link
- F-35A rotation from Middle East: 158th Fighter Wing "Green Mountain Boys" returned to Vermont after Operation Epic Fury deployment to CENTCOM AOR. → link
- Gulf air activity running ~3× normal: WarWatchIntel hourly updates consistently noted near-triple normal military air activity in the Gulf/Iran region with coded radio broadcasts. → link
Analysis
The past 24 hours show two dominant air power trends: (1) a sustained NATO/US ISR and surveillance surge across European and Gulf theaters, and (2) continued Ukrainian deep-strike successes against Russian air infrastructure. The repeated NATO E-3 AWACS launches and RC-135 Rivet Joint missions with multinational tanker support suggest high readiness postures tied to both the Iran/Gulf crisis and ongoing European security concerns. The Russian Su-35 collision and airbase strikes at Saky and Taganrog underscore continued pressure on Russian air operations from Ukrainian drones. Globally, P-8 Poseidon operations across the UK, India, Australia, Japan, and Portugal indicate widespread maritime ISR activity — likely tied to Gulf shipping security and Indo-Pacific monitoring. Watch for: further Gulf escalation following IRGC missile launches toward the Strait of Hormuz; potential Russian air force repositioning after airbase strikes; and continued AWACS/tanker surges as indicators of NATO force posture adjustments.
Tweet Feed
NATO AWACS & ISR Surveillance
@SkyGlass12 · 2026-09-07T17:12
🚨 Overwatch Alert 🚨 NATO03 [ E3TF ] OFF Ground : Bad Lausick DE — Luxembourg-registered NATO03 E3TF AWACS aircraft likely conducting airborne radar surveillance or early warning operations over Germany. → tweet link
@SkyGlass12 · 2026-09-07T15:53
🚨 Overwatch Alert 🚨 NATO01 [ E3TF ] OFF Ground : Elsterberg DE — E-3T AWACS aircraft just after takeoff from Elsterberg, Germany. → tweet link
@SkyGlass12 · 2026-09-07T10:05
🚨 Overwatch Alert 🚨 NATO03 [ E3TF ] OFF Ground : Hoensbroek NL — E-3 Sentry AWACS off-ground near Hoensbroek, Netherlands, suggesting ongoing regional ISR or alert duties. → tweet link
@SkyGlass12 · 2026-09-07T08:52
🚨 Overwatch Alert 🚨 [ NA ] [ E3TF ] ON Ground : Geilenkirchen DE — Luxembourg-registered E3TF AWACS currently on the ground at Geilenkirchen, Germany. → tweet link
@WarWatchIntel · 2026-09-07T17:00
📡 HOURLY UPDATE — Multiple US military transport planes airborne over the US, with air activity near the Baltic nearly three times normal. A radar spy plane also spotted over the North Sea. → tweet link
@WarWatchIntel · 2026-09-07T10:00
📡 HOURLY UPDATE — Three US Air Force transport planes flying over the North Sea, alongside a NATO radar jet and a US spy plane gathering intelligence signals over the Atlantic. → tweet link
RC-135 Rivet Joint & Cobra Ball Movements
@ArmchairAdml · 2026-09-07T08:09
RAF / #USAF — Boeing RC-135 Rivet Joint 1x #43C39D ZZ666 - ASCOT 7207; Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker 1x #ADFF0C 60-0335 - LAGER 51. RAF Rivet Joint ASCOT 7207 up from RAF Waddington, refuelling by LAGER 51 in AARA8.
@ArmchairAdml · 2026-09-07T12:48
USAF — Boeing RC-135 Rivet Joint 1x #AE01CE 62-4134 - OLIVE 34. OLIVE 34 is inbound RAF Mildenhall from Chania, likely for maintenance.
@UKDefJournal · 2026-09-07T08:14
A Royal Air Force RC-135 Rivet Joint has refuelled from a French A330 MRTT during a three-nation exercise intended to open access to more than 30 allied tankers. → tweet link
@airsuperiorx · 2026-09-07T17:13
RT @Orange_GDB: 横田基地にコブラボール！ — RC-135S Cobra Ball at Yokota AB, transiting from Alaska to Kadena AB, stopping over. → tweet link
@airsuperiorx · 2026-09-07T17:51
RT @Orange_GDB: 本日の横田基地！ — Cobra Ball quick departure from Yokota; RC-135 series exhaust smell noted by spotter. → tweet link
@airsuperiorx · 2026-09-07T06:54
COBRA BALL VAPES ‼️ → tweet link
B-1B Lancer Operations
@DefenceGeek · 2026-09-07T16:45
RT @Andyyyyrrrr: 17:18 STUMP 44/45 x2 USAF B-1/B Lancer — On RTB to RAF Fairford after a local sortie and AR with #PICO64/65 (from Avord AB). → tweet link
P-8 Poseidon / Maritime Patrol Movements
@SkyGlass12 · 2026-09-07T18:40
🚨 Overwatch Alert 🚨 HL27M [ P8 ] OFF Ground : Mirpur Sakro PK — Indian-registered P-8 took off from Mirpur Sakro, likely maritime surveillance in Arabian Sea region. → tweet link
@SkyGlass12 · 2026-09-07T17:33
🚨 Overwatch Alert 🚨 FALCN03 [ P8 ] OFF Ground : Lossiemouth GB — UK-registered P-8, part of SUBHUNTERS group, conducting maritime patrol/ISR from Lossiemouth. → tweet link
@SkyGlass12 · 2026-09-07T15:32
🚨 Overwatch Alert 🚨 GURNY02 [ P8 ] ON Ground : Barrow in Furness GB — UK P-8 on ground near Barrow-in-Furness, likely ISR or maritime patrol support. → tweet link
@SkyGlass12 · 2026-09-07T12:55
🚨 Overwatch Alert 🚨 KL46B [ P8 ] OFF Ground : Keeramangalam IN — Indian military P-8 off ground near Keeramangalam, maritime surveillance in Indian Ocean region. → tweet link
@SkyGlass12 · 2026-09-07T11:24
🚨 Overwatch Alert 🚨 GURNY02 [ P8 ] OFF Ground : Elgin GB — UK P-8 Poseidon took off from Elgin, likely maritime patrol/anti-submarine mission. → tweet link
@SkyGlass12 · 2026-09-07T11:07
🚨 Overwatch Alert 🚨 CRONS01 [ P8 ] OFF Ground : Elgin GB — UK P-8 Poseidon took off from Elgin, conducting maritime patrol/ISR/ASW mission. → tweet link
@SkyGlass12 · 2026-09-07T10:55
🚨 Overwatch Alert 🚨 [ NA ] [ P8 ] OFF Ground : Ishikawa JP — U.S. military P-8 Poseidon off ground near Ishikawa, Japan, surveillance/ASW/ISR over region. → tweet link
@SkyGlass12 · 2026-09-07T08:30
🚨 Overwatch Alert 🚨 ASY176 [ P8 ] OFF Ground : Port Augusta AU — Australian P-8 near Port Augusta, maritime patrol/surveillance/reconnaissance. → tweet link
@SkyGlass12 · 2026-09-07T05:34
🚨 Overwatch Alert 🚨 ORION01 [ P3 ] OFF Ground : Beja PT — Portuguese P-3 maritime patrol aircraft launched from Beja Air Base. → tweet link
@SkyGlass12 · 2026-09-07T04:09
🚨 Overwatch Alert 🚨 [ NA ] [ P8 ] OFF Ground : Alangayam IN — Indian military P-8 Poseidon took off near Alangayam, maritime patrol/ASW in Indian Ocean. → tweet link
Combat Aviation: Russian Losses & Ukrainian Strikes
@Osinttechnical · 2026-09-07T17:21
A pair of Russian Su-35 fighters reportedly collided over Kursk Oblast today. Mixed reports on the pilots, at least one ejected. → tweet link
@Osinttechnical · 2026-09-07T15:02
Ukrainian attack drones struck the Russian-occupied Saky Airbase overnight, hitting a Su-24 tactical bomber. → tweet link
@Osinttechnical · 2026-09-07T05:17
The flight line at Russia's Taganrog Airbase is on fire after an overnight Ukrainian drone raid. Local channels reported loud explosions, air defense activity, FIRMS picking up a large fire around 3 AM. → tweet link
@vcdgf555 · 2026-09-06T20:10
RT @FirePointUA: 🔥 On Sept 4, 3 Russian Helicopters were destroyed at Sochi Airport. As promised, oil depots and S-400s were just the beginning. → tweet link
Air Base Satellite Imagery
@GlobalOSINTHQ · 2026-09-07T13:36
BREAKING Satellite imagery shows two U.S. personnel barracks at Kuwait's Ali Al Salem Air Base were destroyed between August 25 and September 3. One building reduced to rubble, debris at the other partially cleared. Iran's IRGC announced on September 2 it had targeted U.S. housing and command facilities at the base with missiles and drones.
Gulf / Iran Air Activity
@GlobalOSINTHQ · 2026-09-07T18:12
BREAKING IRGC Navy anti-ship cruise missile launches from Sirik towards the Strait of Hormuz.
@WarWatchIntel · 2026-09-07T12:00
📡 HOURLY UPDATE — Multiple US Air Force transport planes airborne over the North Sea and UK, while air activity in the Gulf and Iran region is running nearly three times above normal levels. → tweet link
@WarWatchIntel · 2026-09-07T04:00
📡 HOURLY UPDATE — Gulf region seeing nearly three times normal military air activity. Multiple US Air Force transport planes and surveillance aircraft airborne. Several coded US Air Force radio broadcasts. → tweet link
@WarWatchIntel · 2026-09-07T07:00
📡 HOURLY UPDATE — Multiple US Air Force transport planes and surveillance aircraft airborne across Atlantic and Europe; a nuclear command plane also spotted over the region. → tweet link
Fighter Deployments & Drone Shootdowns
@sentdefender · 2026-09-07T04:33
A group of Airmen from the 158th Fighter Wing, the "Green Mountain Boys," has returned to Vermont Air National Guard Base following a deployment with F-35A Lightning IIs in support of Operation Epic Fury in CENTCOM AOR. Replacements beginning to rotate in amid escalating tensions over Strait of Hormuz. → tweet link
@sentdefender · 2026-09-06T19:33
Houthis are now claiming to have shot down a Saudi Wing Loong II drone northwest of Sanaa. → tweet link
VIP & Transport Movements
@ArmchairAdml · 2026-09-07T07:53
USAF VIP Movements — POTUS Visit to Ireland, 7 September 2026. Boeing C-17 Globemaster III #AE08E3 00-0183 - REACH 4135 arrived at Shannon Airport from Quantico, likely with first helicopters for MARINE ONE formation. GRIT 41-44 Flt 4x CH-47 Chinooks arrived in Liverpool for nightstop from USAG Ansbach.
@DeepTraceAlerts · 2026-09-07T18:02
🚨 POTUS FLEET DETECTED — Aircraft: Air Force Two (19-0018), Fleet: AF2 | Model: Boeing C-32A, Location: 38.8998, -76.8462 → tweet link
@DeepTraceAlerts · 2026-09-07T16:26
🚨 POTUS FLEET DETECTED — Aircraft: Air Force Two (99-0004), Callsign: SAM869, Fleet: AF2 | Model: Boeing C-32A, Location: 38.8422, -76.9658 → tweet link
@DeepTraceAlerts · 2026-09-07T03:19
🚨 POTUS FLEET DETECTED — Aircraft: Air Force Two (98-0002), Callsign: SAM934, Fleet: AF2 | Model: Boeing C-32A, Location: 50.1140, 22.0277 → tweet link
@WarWatchIntel · 2026-09-07T19:00
📡 HOURLY UPDATE — Six US Air Force transport planes airborne over the US right now, about double the normal number for this hour. → tweet link
Exercise Air Activity
@UKDefJournal · 2026-09-07T12:25
Chinook helicopters have been operating at low level as part of Exercise Kukri Dawn, a training deployment that has taken the aircraft over Fife, Edinburgh and Glasgow. → tweet link
@UKDefJournal · 2026-09-07T17:54
This happens every year, it's not cover, it's a training exercise. [referring to Exercise Kukri Dawn] → tweet link
Munitions & Defense Procurement (Air-Related)
@UKDefJournal · 2026-09-07T08:14
Raytheon has received a seven-year contract worth $22.9 billion to sharply increase Tomahawk cruise missile production, with annual output planned to rise above 1,000 weapons for the US Navy and allies. → tweet link
@UKDefJournal · 2026-09-07T14:10
The United States has approved a possible $5 billion Foreign Military Sale to Saudi Arabia covering more than 10,000 JDAM guidance kits, more than 10,000 general-purpose bombs and associated equipment. → tweet link
@FaytuksNetwork · 2026-09-07T17:13
Volkswagen reached a preliminary deal to sell its Osnabrück plant. The deal includes planned cooperation with Israel's Rafael on air defence systems and components, while additional projects could involve converting VW vehicles for military use. → tweet link
@DefenceGeek · 2026-09-07T14:52
Poland announces it will conduct a test of a new long-range strike weapon with a range of 1,000km in the near future. → tweet link
Aircraft Programs & Exports
@SkyGlass12 · 2026-09-07T16:00
SU-57 TARGETS GLOBAL MARKETS — Russia is pushing its advanced Su-57 stealth fighter as new export deals emerge ahead of the Egypt airshow. → tweet link
@SkyGlass12 · 2026-09-07T12:01
JAPAN EYES GHOST BAT DRONE — Japan is exploring Boeing's MQ-28 Ghost Bat to boost its coastal defenses, signaling a shift towards unmanned military tech. → tweet link
@DefenceGeek · 2026-09-07T16:02
RT @DefenceGeek: US ORBAT - Tankers - 07/SEP/2026 #IranWar — An update to tankers ORBAT (last posted 19/AUG/2026) to show the numbers of USAF tankers deployed. → tweet link
Yokota AB Spotter Reports
@airsuperiorx · 2026-09-07T17:16
RT @headdancer7: #97の日 横田基地 RC-12X — 3rdMIBtn 93-00697, 93-00698. September 2024, April 2024 — もう撮れないのが、残念 → tweet link
@airsuperiorx · 2026-09-07T06:51
RT @kobasho42heavy: 出先で捕獲 — RC-135S 663 at Yokota, first visit in ~2 years, with added square antennas and removed unit markings. → tweet link
@airsuperiorx · 2026-09-07T07:08
RT @headdancer7: #96の日 横田基地 NKC-135A — USNAVY FEWSG 56-3596, "Nucar 01", returning home after exercise. → tweet link