reconron
@thereccelizard.bsky.social
Russian Military Analyst. 45 years Russian airplane chaser. Cold War mentality. Можно по Русский. 8000+ hours RC-135.
Remember: Rada Airlines Il-62M CLASSIC EW-505TR flew to Bandar Abbas this morning and Tu-214PU Airborne Command Post RA-64533 is on the ground in Tehran. www.pbs.org/newshour/wor...
Iran temporarily closing Strait of Hormuz for live fire drills as nuclear talks with U.S. begin
The U.S. and Iran are holding their second round of talks about Iran’s nuclear program Tuesday in Geneva. As the talks began, Iranian media announced that Iran had fired live missiles toward the Strai...
www.pbs.org
February 17, 2026 at 1:40 PM
Remember: Rada Airlines Il-62M CLASSIC EW-505TR flew to Bandar Abbas this morning and Tu-214PU Airborne Command Post RA-64533 is on the ground in Tehran. www.pbs.org/newshour/wor...
I got tail numbers mixed up again: On 16 Feb two Russian aircraft landed in IRN: Tu-214PU Airborne Command Post RA-64533 and Rada Airlines Il-62M CLASSIC EW-505TR.
February 17, 2026 at 12:45 PM
I got tail numbers mixed up again: On 16 Feb two Russian aircraft landed in IRN: Tu-214PU Airborne Command Post RA-64533 and Rada Airlines Il-62M CLASSIC EW-505TR.
Early on 17 Feb SFS An-124 CONDOR RA-82030 RFF8624 was tracked over the COD, RWA and descending into Dar es Salaam TZA. It took off after approximately four hours. I wonder if it is headed for MDG?
February 17, 2026 at 11:04 AM
Early on 17 Feb SFS An-124 CONDOR RA-82030 RFF8624 was tracked over the COD, RWA and descending into Dar es Salaam TZA. It took off after approximately four hours. I wonder if it is headed for MDG?
After approximately four hours on the ground at Tehran on 17 Feb Rada Airlines Il-62M CLASSIC EW-505TR took off and flew to Bandar Abbas. The Iranian drone-carrying ship SHAHID BAGHERI was recently positioned off the coast of Bandar Abbas.
February 17, 2026 at 10:35 AM
After approximately four hours on the ground at Tehran on 17 Feb Rada Airlines Il-62M CLASSIC EW-505TR took off and flew to Bandar Abbas. The Iranian drone-carrying ship SHAHID BAGHERI was recently positioned off the coast of Bandar Abbas.
On 16 Feb SFS Il-96 CAMBER RA-96018 RSD150 took off from Moscow (VKO) and is en route to Geneva CHE.
February 16, 2026 at 8:44 PM
On 16 Feb SFS Il-96 CAMBER RA-96018 RSD150 took off from Moscow (VKO) and is en route to Geneva CHE.
On 16 Feb Rada Airlines Il-62M CLASSIC EW-505TR took off from Minsk and flew to Tehran (likely IKA) IRN. This flight should raise some eyebrows!
February 16, 2026 at 8:08 PM
On 16 Feb Rada Airlines Il-62M CLASSIC EW-505TR took off from Minsk and flew to Tehran (likely IKA) IRN. This flight should raise some eyebrows!
On 16 Feb Tu-214PU Airborne Command Post RA-64533 RSD420 took off from Moscow (VKO) and is en route to Tehran (IKA) IRN.
February 16, 2026 at 6:21 PM
On 16 Feb Tu-214PU Airborne Command Post RA-64533 RSD420 took off from Moscow (VKO) and is en route to Tehran (IKA) IRN.
On 16 Feb VKS An-148 RA-61733 flew Moscow (CKL) to St P-Burg Levashovo and after a three hour stop flew on to K-Grad Chkalovsk. It took off after approximately two hours and is now en route back. This aircraft made an almost identical flight on 30 Jan.
February 16, 2026 at 4:17 PM
On 16 Feb VKS An-148 RA-61733 flew Moscow (CKL) to St P-Burg Levashovo and after a three hour stop flew on to K-Grad Chkalovsk. It took off after approximately two hours and is now en route back. This aircraft made an almost identical flight on 30 Jan.
Last tracked on 11 Feb when it returned to Ulyanovsk from a trip to Africa, on 16 Feb SFS An-124 CONDOR RA-82030 RFF8617 flew from an unknown location in RUS to Khmejmim Airbase SYR landing with a ubiquitous anti-SAM maneuver. It will likely take off later and fly to Africa.
February 16, 2026 at 2:12 PM
Last tracked on 11 Feb when it returned to Ulyanovsk from a trip to Africa, on 16 Feb SFS An-124 CONDOR RA-82030 RFF8617 flew from an unknown location in RUS to Khmejmim Airbase SYR landing with a ubiquitous anti-SAM maneuver. It will likely take off later and fly to Africa.
On 16 Feb SFS Il-96 CAMBER RA-96023 RSD795 took off from Moscow (VKO) and is en route to Ivato International Airport, Antananarivo MDG. In early 2026 RUS is significantly intensifying its diplomatic and military engagement with Madagascar's new military leadership following a coup in late 2025.
February 16, 2026 at 11:45 AM
On 16 Feb SFS Il-96 CAMBER RA-96023 RSD795 took off from Moscow (VKO) and is en route to Ivato International Airport, Antananarivo MDG. In early 2026 RUS is significantly intensifying its diplomatic and military engagement with Madagascar's new military leadership following a coup in late 2025.
This is interesting taking into account recent Russian flights into/out of Dakar. united24media.com/latest-news/...
Leaked Documents Reveal Russia’s Plot to Stage Coup in Senegal
Russian intelligence drafted coup scenarios in Senegal and expanded covert influence tools across Africa after Wagner’s takeover.
united24media.com
February 16, 2026 at 8:59 AM
This is interesting taking into account recent Russian flights into/out of Dakar. united24media.com/latest-news/...
On 15 Feb SFS An-124 CONDOR RA-82037 RFF8617 took off from Moscow (CKL) and is headed south.
February 15, 2026 at 8:10 PM
On 15 Feb SFS An-124 CONDOR RA-82037 RFF8617 took off from Moscow (CKL) and is headed south.
On 15 Feb Iranian Government Dassault Falcon 900EX EP-IGC IRAN05 (Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi) took off from Tehran and filed a flightplan for Geneva CHE; however, tracking is a bit inconsistent. www.pbs.org/newshour/wor...
February 15, 2026 at 3:52 PM
On 15 Feb Iranian Government Dassault Falcon 900EX EP-IGC IRAN05 (Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi) took off from Tehran and filed a flightplan for Geneva CHE; however, tracking is a bit inconsistent. www.pbs.org/newshour/wor...
I have not posted on this for awhile, but recently on 10 Feb I saw Rada Airlines Il-62M CLASSIC EW-505TR get ‘caught’ in what I call ‘The Smolensk Circle’ GPS spoofer. I first noticed this in Dec 2023 and have posted on it several times.
February 14, 2026 at 3:01 PM
I have not posted on this for awhile, but recently on 10 Feb I saw Rada Airlines Il-62M CLASSIC EW-505TR get ‘caught’ in what I call ‘The Smolensk Circle’ GPS spoofer. I first noticed this in Dec 2023 and have posted on it several times.
United Aircraft is conducting ground-testing of the Ilyushin Il-114-300 at Yakutsk airport to assess operational capabilities in extreme conditions. The test are taking place in mid-February when the temperature at the Siberian airport is typically minus 35-45°C. www.youtube.com/watch?v=UC_y...
February 14, 2026 at 10:16 AM
United Aircraft is conducting ground-testing of the Ilyushin Il-114-300 at Yakutsk airport to assess operational capabilities in extreme conditions. The test are taking place in mid-February when the temperature at the Siberian airport is typically minus 35-45°C. www.youtube.com/watch?v=UC_y...
There have been several curious flights allegedly by ROSGVARDIYA Il-76TD CANDID RF-86925 operating from Nizhnij Novgorod. They began in Nov 2025 and there were two today, 12 Feb. While the altitudes are acceptable for a CANDID, the speeds are too close to the aircraft’s stall speed.
February 12, 2026 at 5:56 PM
There have been several curious flights allegedly by ROSGVARDIYA Il-76TD CANDID RF-86925 operating from Nizhnij Novgorod. They began in Nov 2025 and there were two today, 12 Feb. While the altitudes are acceptable for a CANDID, the speeds are too close to the aircraft’s stall speed.
On 12 Feb SFS Il-96 CAMBER RA-96023 RSD795 took off from Queen Alia International Airport, Amman JOR and appears to en route back to RUS avoiding Syrian, Iraqi and Iranian airspace.
February 12, 2026 at 2:16 PM
On 12 Feb SFS Il-96 CAMBER RA-96023 RSD795 took off from Queen Alia International Airport, Amman JOR and appears to en route back to RUS avoiding Syrian, Iraqi and Iranian airspace.
On 12 Feb ROSKOSMOS Tu-134AK CRUSTY RF-65151 took off from Moscow (CKL) and flew to Ekaterinburg. After a brief stop it took off and flew south; however, just before entering KAZ it turned around and appears to be headed back towards Moscow.
February 12, 2026 at 11:46 AM
On 12 Feb ROSKOSMOS Tu-134AK CRUSTY RF-65151 took off from Moscow (CKL) and flew to Ekaterinburg. After a brief stop it took off and flew south; however, just before entering KAZ it turned around and appears to be headed back towards Moscow.
Early on 12 Feb Meraj Airlines A321 EP-SSN IRAN02 (President of Iran Masoud Pezeshkian) departed Tehran (THR) and flew to Gorgan IRN. Gorgan and its surrounding area is used for testing military defense systems and drones. Gorgan also hosts offices and bases for the IRGC.
February 12, 2026 at 9:42 AM
Early on 12 Feb Meraj Airlines A321 EP-SSN IRAN02 (President of Iran Masoud Pezeshkian) departed Tehran (THR) and flew to Gorgan IRN. Gorgan and its surrounding area is used for testing military defense systems and drones. Gorgan also hosts offices and bases for the IRGC.
On 09 Feb 224th SFS Il-76MD CANDID RA-78838 flew from Moscow to an unknown location in southern RUS. On 11 Feb it took off and flew to Zvartnots International Airport, Yerevan ARM. This aircraft flew an almost identical route to Yerevan from 20-24 Mar 2025.
February 12, 2026 at 9:15 AM
On 09 Feb 224th SFS Il-76MD CANDID RA-78838 flew from Moscow to an unknown location in southern RUS. On 11 Feb it took off and flew to Zvartnots International Airport, Yerevan ARM. This aircraft flew an almost identical route to Yerevan from 20-24 Mar 2025.
More Doom and Gloom. It must be the topic of the day: Article (in Russian) in vpk.name from a Chinese blog on the RS-28 Sarmat (SS-X-30 SATAN II) ICBM referred to in the article as the 'Doomsday Hammer.’ Is this subtle messaging aimed at the West from RUS? vpk.name/news/1100978...
Новости Военно-Промышленного Комплекса России и других стран мира - ВПК.name
vpk.name
February 11, 2026 at 4:19 PM
More Doom and Gloom. It must be the topic of the day: Article (in Russian) in vpk.name from a Chinese blog on the RS-28 Sarmat (SS-X-30 SATAN II) ICBM referred to in the article as the 'Doomsday Hammer.’ Is this subtle messaging aimed at the West from RUS? vpk.name/news/1100978...
Article (in Russian) from Lenta.ru via vpk.name about the seldom seen Il-86VzPU (Airborne Command Post) CAMBER AKA the ‘Doomsday Aircraft’ with a picture taken during air-to-air refueling. The date of the picture is not known. vpk.name/news/1101013...
February 11, 2026 at 4:03 PM
Article (in Russian) from Lenta.ru via vpk.name about the seldom seen Il-86VzPU (Airborne Command Post) CAMBER AKA the ‘Doomsday Aircraft’ with a picture taken during air-to-air refueling. The date of the picture is not known. vpk.name/news/1101013...
On 11 Feb SFS Il-96 CAMBER RA-96023 RSD795 took off from Cairo EGY and is headed east. It arrived from Moscow on 09 Feb.
February 11, 2026 at 1:27 PM
On 11 Feb SFS Il-96 CAMBER RA-96023 RSD795 took off from Cairo EGY and is headed east. It arrived from Moscow on 09 Feb.
On 11 Feb SFS An-124 CONDOR RA-82030 ‘reappeared’ south of Cairo EGY returning from a trip to Africa. It flew back to RUS and was last tracked descending near Ulyanovsk where it likely landed. It was last tracked on 09 Feb flying south with tracking dropping just north of EGY.
February 11, 2026 at 1:15 PM
On 11 Feb SFS An-124 CONDOR RA-82030 ‘reappeared’ south of Cairo EGY returning from a trip to Africa. It flew back to RUS and was last tracked descending near Ulyanovsk where it likely landed. It was last tracked on 09 Feb flying south with tracking dropping just north of EGY.
On 11 Feb SFS Il-62M CLASSIC RA-86495 RFF7263 took off from Caracas VEN. It arrived on 04 Feb so it was there for some time. It was eastbound but appeared to take a turn toward BRB but that was probably just a glitch in tracking (or intentional spoofing).
February 11, 2026 at 8:58 AM
On 11 Feb SFS Il-62M CLASSIC RA-86495 RFF7263 took off from Caracas VEN. It arrived on 04 Feb so it was there for some time. It was eastbound but appeared to take a turn toward BRB but that was probably just a glitch in tracking (or intentional spoofing).