Aviano’s F-16s Return from Saudi Arabia

Today, twelve U.S. Air Force F-16C Fighting Falcons assigned to the 31st Fighter Wing at Aviano Air Base (c/s TABOR61/64, TABOR71/74, TABOR81/84) returned to Italy after completing their deployment to Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia. The redeployment, supported by six aerial refueling tankers, marks the end of the latest CORONET East rotation while confirming that the temporary reinforcement of the Kingdom has now concluded.

Flight tracking data showed three separate cells of four F-16s each departing Prince Sultan Air Base and heading back to Aviano.

Each formation was escorted by a KC-46A Pegasus operating from Prince Sultan and later handed over to a KC-135 Stratotanker that had launched from NAS Sigonella, allowing continuous aerial refueling during the transit across the Eastern Mediterranean.

According to publicly available tracking data, the KC-46s accompanied the fighters as far as the eastern Mediterranean, while the KC-135s assumed refueling duties east of Sicily before escorting the aircraft toward northern Italy.

Return to Aviano

The Aviano-based F-16s had deployed to Saudi Arabia on February 17.

Their return suggests that the temporary deployment has now officially ended. While U.S. forces continue to maintain a substantial presence across the region, the withdrawal of this Aviano-based detachment indicates that one of the reinforcement packages established during the recent period of heightened regional tensions is no longer considered necessary.