DefenceTalkNATO has taken another important step forward to improve its ability to refuel aircraft in mid-air, with three Allies looking to join a European program to acquire new refueling aircraft. Today (16 February 2017), Defence Ministers from Belgium, Germany, and Norway signed a Declaration of Intent to join a European multinational fleet of Airbus tankers, […]https://www.defencetalk.com/allies-join-multinational-fleet-of-tanker-transport-aircraft-69174/

DefenceTalkThe Indian Air Force (IAF) has canceled the tender worth USD2 billion for six A330 MRTT (Multi-Role Tanker Transport) aerial tankers, according to a source in the Indian Ministry of Defense (MoD). “The MoD has terminated the program to acquire six A330 MRTT aerial tankers from the Airbus Defense and Space Company. We are planning […]https://www.defencetalk.com/india-might-acquire-russian-il-78m-90a-aerial-tankers-67941/

DefenceTalkThe Netherlands is ready to purchase 2 Airbus tanker/transport aircraft with Luxembourg. The aircraft will be NATO property and will be stationed at Eindhoven Air Base for pooling and sharing. Belgium, Germany, Norway and Poland intend to join the agreement at a later date. The MRTT (Multi Role Tanker Transport) project is an example of […]https://www.defencetalk.com/netherlands-and-luxembourg-buy-tanker-aircraft-together-67936/

DefenceTalkThe KC-46A Pegasus connected in flight with an F-16 Fighting Falcon and a C-17 Globemaster III July 8 and July 12, respectively, as part of a testing milestone. These tests with the F-16 and C-17 were in support of the Milestone C requirements to rendezvous, contact and transfer fuel to several receiver aircraft types. An […]https://www.defencetalk.com/kc-46-completes-milestone-by-refueling-fighter-jet-cargo-plane-67839/

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/

DefenceTalkAs the Air Force gets ready for the arrival of its newest aerial refueling and strategic military transport aircraft, a diverse group of Airmen is working hard to make sure the KC-46A Pegasus is ready to meet the service’s needs. Lt. Col. John Mikal is one of them. Mikal, a reservist KC-135 Stratotanker instructor pilot […]https://www.defencetalk.com/usaf-putting-the-kc-46a-pegasus-through-its-paces-67185/

DefenceTalkAn Air Force and Boeing aircrew aboard a KC-46A Pegasus successfully refueled an F/A-18 Hornet fighter jet in flight Feb. 10, marking the program’s first using the tanker’s hose and drogue system. The flight, which took place in the skies over Washington state, lasted more than four hours and the tanker’s air refueling operator transferred […]https://www.defencetalk.com/kc-46-refuels-fighter-jet-with-hose-drogue-system-for-first-time-66770/

DefenceTalkThe X-47B test UAV has completed the first-ever autonomous aerial refueling. Developed by Northrop Grumman, the drone received over 4,000 pounds of fuel from a tanker jet just off the coast of Virginia. “What we accomplished today demonstrates a significant, groundbreaking step forward for the Navy,” Captain Beau Duarte, program manager for the Navy’s unmanned […]https://www.defencetalk.com/for-the-first-time-ever-us-navy-drone-refueled-mid-flight-63926/

DefenceTalkTRANSIT CENTER AT MANAS, Kyrgyzstan: The Transit Center’s final aerial refueling mission over Afghanistan landed here Feb. 24, completing the end of an era. After six hours of traveling, refueling A-10 Thunderbolt IIs, and F-16 Fighting Falcons, the KC-135 Stratotanker touched down to a fanfare of saluting Airmen. Col. Mike Seiler, the 376th Expeditionary Operations […]https://www.defencetalk.com/manas-kc-135s-complete-final-mission-leave-kyrgyzstan-58895/

DefenceTalkBoeing is assembling the fourth and final KC-46A test aircraft for the U.S. Air Force’s next-generation aerial refueling tanker program at the company’s Everett factory, keeping the program on track to deliver the initial 18 tankers to the Air Force by 2017. “All four test aircraft are moving through production to support our transition to […]https://www.defencetalk.com/boeing-starts-assembly-of-final-kc-46a-test-aircraft-50153/