Misbar Tracks New U.S. Aerial Refueling Flights to Morón Air Base

Misbar’s team at Al Araby TV monitored data from four new flights on Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026, documenting the movement of four U.S. aerial refueling aircraft of the KC-46A Pegasus type along an eastbound route across the North Atlantic. The aircraft departed from Portsmouth International Airport in New Hampshire and headed to Morón Air Base in Spain.

Alongside tracking the four refueling aircraft, a report published by the website JFeed indicated that the flights may be linked to escorting U.S. electronic warfare aircraft of the EA-18G Growler type during an eastbound transit via Spain, amid a broader escalation between Washington and Tehran.

The report noted that the refueling aircraft accompanying the electronic warfare jets carried the call signs GOLD31, GOLD32, GOLD41, and GOLD42—the same call signs identified by Misbar in the aviation navigation data reviewed in detail.

The movement comes just days after Misbar documented the arrival of four Boeing KC-135 aerial refueling aircraft at the same Spanish military base on Jan. 20.

Four New Flights to Morón Air Base

Data from FlightRadar show that the first aircraft, operating under the call sign GOLD31 with registration number 17-46027, departed Portsmouth International Airport at 9:17 a.m. UTC and arrived at Morón Air Base at 5:05 p.m. UTC.

The second flight involved an aircraft registered as 15-46067, using the call sign GOLD41. It took off from the same airport at 9:51 a.m. UTC before its signal disappeared after entering Spanish airspace at 6:43 p.m. UTC.

Tracking data also recorded another flight under the call sign GOLD32, involving a KC-46A Pegasus aerial refueling aircraft with registration 18-46044. It departed Portsmouth at 10:37 a.m. UTC and arrived in Morón at 5:55 p.m. UTC.

A fourth flight, operating under the call sign GOLD42, involved another aircraft of the same type with registration 11-46059. It took off from the same airport at 11:15 a.m. UTC before its signal was lost after entering Spanish airspace at 6:21 p.m. UTC the same day.

What Are the Capabilities of the KC-46A Pegasus?

The KC-46A Pegasus, manufactured by Boeing, is the latest generation of aerial refueling and strategic transport aircraft, designed to replace the aging KC-135 fleet. Based on the Boeing 767 airframe, the aircraft is capable of refueling all types of military aircraft—whether U.S. or allied—while airborne.

In addition, the Pegasus functions as a multi-mission platform, capable of transporting cargo and passengers, evacuating the sick and wounded, and operating with advanced defensive systems and digital communications networks that enable it to serve as a command-and-control hub on the modern battlefield.

The KC-46A is the primary aerial refueling platform for the U.S. Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps, as well as for the air forces of partner and allied countries.

In the context of recent confrontations between Iran and Israel, the strategic importance of the KC-46A has become particularly evident. The U.S. Air Force has deployed these aircraft extensively across the Middle East to support both defensive and offensive operations.

These flying tankers have played a central role in extending the operational range of fighter jets—such as the F-15 and F-35—used to intercept Iranian drones and missiles. By enabling aircraft to remain airborne for extended periods without landing, the refuelers have provided critical logistical support to ensure air superiority and deterrence.

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