Seymour Johnson F-15Es return from Middle East with drone kill markings and Mortal Kombat nose art

Ten F-15E Strike Eagles from Seymour Johnson Air Force Base returned from a Middle East deployment, arriving at RAF Mildenhall on Sept. 24 and 25. They are the first of 24 Strike Eagles from the 4th Fighter Wing that deployed to the CENTCOM area of responsibility between January and March 2026. According to the source, the jets supported Operation Epic Fury against Iran.

The returning aircraft carry Mortal Kombat-themed nose art, with individual jets named after characters from the video game series. The first section of four F-15Es arrived on Sept. 24, using callsigns TABOR 21 to 24 and supported by a KC-135R tanker. It included airframes named Liu Kang, Sub Zero, Kitana and Scorpion. A second section arrived on Sept. 26 with jets named Reptile, Kano and Cage, plus a further airframe name not fully listed in the source.

The jets also display a combined 45 Shahed drone kill markings and bomb silhouettes.

The 4th Fighter Wing aircraft are the latest group of F-15Es to pass through UK airbases on their way back to the United States. Twelve Strike Eagles from the 366th Fighter Wing stopped at RAF Lakenheath on Sept. 16 en route to Mountain Home Air Force Base.