To illustrate the enormous effort required to deliver aircraft to Europe, the RAF just deployed the first 4 x F-35B - the same "probe and drogue" refueled / vertical landing variant used by the USMC - from MCAS Beaufort to RAF Marham, UK.

This 3000-mile transatlantic crossing - even using the state-of-the-art RAF / civilian PFI Voyager tanker - required 12 x air-to-air refueling brackets / legs.

The UK is expected to order 138 x F-35B over the coming years - all of which will need delivering to the UK. The RAF participates in Ex RED FLAG at Nellis AFB every year so a number of aircraft will do the reverse return trip every year.

See video here: https://www.bbc.com/news/av/uk-england-norfol...raf-marham