Saudi Arabia requested the support following escalations in Yemen, despite maintaining a domestic fleet of more than 22 tankers. To sustain the operations, Saudi aircraft have shifted their primary launch site from Jeddah to the US-operated Prince Sultan Air Base. UK Defence Secretary Wes Streeting stated the involvement of the RAF aircraft is intended for defensive operations to protect airspace over cities including Riyadh and Jeddah.
Wednesday, October 21, 2026
Story
UK RAF Joins US in Refuelling Saudi Air Campaign in Yemen
War13 days ago
A single tanker aircraft from the Royal Air Force has flown multiple missions over the Red Sea to sustain Saudi military flights targeting Houthi forces in Yemen. An Airbus KC.2 Voyager, callsign ASCOT 9915, has operated from RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus since Sept 30 and was first seen flying a visible refuelling pattern north of the Yemen border on Oct 8. US Air Force KC-46A tankers have also been spotted in the region to provide refueling for American or British fighter and reconnaissance jets.
Looking for more context or analysis?
Tilt chat provides reliable, tailored insights, alerts, and automations.