DefenceTalkThe U.S. Navy and Boeing [NYSE: BA] have used the MQ-25TM T1 test asset to refuel a U.S. Navy F-35C Lightning II fighter jet for the first time, once again demonstrating the aircraft’s ability to achieve its primary aerial refueling mission. This was the third refueling mission for the Boeing-owned test asset in just over […]

DefenceTalkGlobal reach is an important aspect of the U.S. military’s warfighting ability, and aerial refueling helps to make global reach a reality. Aerial refueling — also called air-to-air refueling and tanking — is the process of transferring fuel from a military tanker aircraft to another military aircraft, including fixed-wing jets and helicopters. Flying booms make […]https://www.defencetalk.com/aerial-refueling-adds-lethality-to-us-military-aviation-74171/

The new capability for Airbus’ C295 to serve as an aerial tanker brings additional flexibility for this tactical airlifter, further increasing its already-proven versatility and opening additional mission opportunities. Airbus Defence and Space developed a removable air-to-air refuelling (AAR) kit for the twin-engine aircraft that utilises a 100-ft.-long deployable hose with a “basket” at the […]

DefenceTalkU.S. Marines with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron (VMGR) 152 conducted aviation delivered ground refueling with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 121 at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, April 11, 2017. The ADGR marked the first evolution of this form of refueling for VMFA-121’s F-35B Lightning II aircraft. The purpose of the training was […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-marines-train-to-refuel-f-35bs-from-tankers-on-ground-69706/

DefenceTalkThe Royal Australian Air Force took a significant step forward in airlift capability when two giant RAAF aircraft conducted air-to-air refueling for the first time. The refueling trials took place during a two-hour sortie off the Queensland coast, between a KC-30A Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) and a C-17A Globemaster III cargo aircraft. The aircraft […]https://www.defencetalk.com/first-successful-air-to-air-refueling-contact-for-raaf-kc-30a-to-c-17a-67412/

DefenceTalkA frustrated IAF has asked the defence ministry to take a decision, one way or the other, on its long-pending case for the almost $2 billion acquisition of six Airbus-330 midair refueling aircraft or tankers to boost the strategic reach of its fighters and bombers. Stressing the critical operational necessity for fast induction of the […]https://www.defencetalk.com/indian-air-force-wants-mod-to-make-on-decision-on-mrtt-purchase-66566/

DefenceTalkBoeing and U.S. Air Force aircrews successfully completed the KC-46A tanker’s first refueling flight today in the skies above Washington state. Following takeoff from Boeing Field in Seattle, the KC-46A test team worked through a series of test points before smoothly offloading 1,600 pounds of fuel to an F-16 fighter aircraft flying at 20,000 feet. […]https://www.defencetalk.com/boeing-us-air-force-make-history-with-first-kc-46a-tanker-refueling-flight-66546/

DefenceTalkA Royal Australian Air Force KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport aircraft has used its air‑to‑air refueling boom for the first time on operations while refueling a RAAF E-7A Wedgetail last week during a Coalition mission above Iraq. The air-to-air boom refuelling process involved two large aircraft, military versions of the Airbus A330 and Boeing 737-700, approaching […]https://www.defencetalk.com/raaf-kc-30a-refuels-e-7a-wedgetail-above-iraq-65691/

DefenceTalkThe Airbus A400M new generation airlifter has further proved its credentials as a tanker by successfully demonstrating simultaneous air-to-air refueling of two F/A-18 fighters. In the course of four flights, the A400M performed 74 contacts and dispensed 27.2 tonnes of fuel to the Spanish Air Force aircraft. Refueling was conducted at altitudes of 20,000ft – […]https://www.defencetalk.com/airbus-a400m-refuels-two-f-18-fighters-simultaneously-63145/

DefenceTalkSingapore said Thursday it would replace its aging KC-135R air refueling tankers made by US firm Boeing with Airbus’s A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft. Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen told parliament of the decision to acquire the MRTT, which is based on the civilian A330 plane. Ng did not say how many Singapore will […]https://www.defencetalk.com/singapore-to-buy-airbus-refueling-tankers-for-air-force-58959/