An Air Force spy jet designed to dissect enemy radar signals was spotted crossing the Atlantic on an undisclosed assignment.

The RC-135U Combat Sent took off from Portsmouth International Airport at Pease in New Hampshire at 1.51am ET on Wednesday, according to Flightradar24 records.

Flying under the callsign COBRA49, the aircraft landed at RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk, England, after six hours and 42 minutes.

One of only two Combat Sent aircraft in the Air Force fleet, the jet collects detailed intelligence on foreign military radar systems.

Its findings can help the US understand how hostile equipment operates and develop technology to detect, evade or defeat it.

The aircraft’s arrival has drawn speculation among online military trackers about a possible Middle East role, although its flight record does not establish an onward destination or operational tasking.

The movement comes as America’s top Middle East commander, Admiral Brad Cooper, has reportedly briefed President Donald Trump on attack options to resume the war in Iran.

Trump is weighing up options to resume attacks on Iran. The meeting reportedly included cabinet members and covered considerations on continuing the US blockade in the region.

Flightradar24’s history identified Wednesday’s aircraft as registration 64-14849 and showed an earlier journey from Omaha, Nebraska to Portsmouth on Tuesday.

Both Combat Sent jets are assigned to the 55th Wing at Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska, while their operations can take them around the world.

RAF Mildenhall has supported the aircraft before. Air Force photographs published in 2014 showed a Combat Sent receiving fuel from a Mildenhall-based tanker over Norway.

Social media is ablaze with comments surrounding RC-135U’s trip, with one X user posting: ‘The deployment would strengthen Washington’s ability to monitor regional air defense networks at a time of heightened tensions with Iran.

‘Although the aircraft’s presence does not necessarily indicate an imminent strike, its capabilities are particularly valuable when assessing potential military operations against sophisticated radar and missile defense systems.’

However, another shared that the mission was consistent with an annual baseline sampling run along the eastern front.

The Combat Sent’s importance lies in the electronic intelligence it gathers from radar installations on land, aboard warships and on aircraft.

Read More: US spy jet spotted crossing the Atlantic on secret mission amid looming war threat