A U.S. Air Force Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker, callsign HIFI 61 and registration 63-8875 (#AE05AF), conducted an active refuelling mission on a round-trip from Topeka, Kansas, supported by the 55th Wing, according to an X post by @ArmchairAdml reported between 7:46 p.m. and 8:15 p.m. UTC on December 18, 2025. The post specifies one such aircraft on the mission, highlighting ongoing U.S. Air Force aerial refuelling operations launched from Topeka. This activity follows U.S. flight tracking reports earlier in the evening, including a U.S. aircraft passing within 28 miles of the Venezuelan shore between 7:16 p.m. and 7:45 p.m. UTC, as noted by @TheIntelFrog on X, amid regional tensions.
