A commercial KDC‐10 tanker refuels an Air Force F‐16 Fighting Falcon from the 51st Fighter Wing on the way to Paya Lebar Air Base, Singapore, on Nov. 6. (U.S. Air Force)
The Air Force has refueled airborne fighters from a commercial tanker for the first time, proving another means of extending its combat airpower, the service said in a recent news release.
Omega Aerial Refueling Services gassed up F-15C Eagles, F-16 Fighting Falcons and F-22 Raptors from a KDC-10 tanker during last month’s Commando Sling exercise in Singapore.
The Virginia-based company began aerial refueling services for the Navy and the Marine Corps in the early 2000s, according to its website.
During the summer, a commercial tanker refueled an Air Force E-3 and an RC-135, Lt. Col. Curtis Holtman, Pacific Air Forces air mobility operations chief, said in a new release last month.
“We’re expanding that aperture in PACAF, and identified a proof-of-concept employment to refuel fighter aircraft during exercise Commando Sling 23,” he said.
Omega’s KDC-10s can carry about 37,000 gallons of fuel depending on type, density and temperature, plus up to 100,000 pounds of freight or passenger payload, according to its website.
“The KDC-10 was also loaded with more than 40 passengers attending the exercise and four pallet positions worth of cargo to exercise the aircraft’s dual role capability for airlift as well as refueling,” Holtman said.
Omega did not respond to a Stars and Stripes phone call Tuesday seeking further comment.
The Air Force cites the demonstration as a proof-of-concept to further project air power across the globe.
“If we can use commercial air refueling to cover the point A to point B movements for exercise participation across unit readiness training, then it frees up our warfighter tanker fleet to be ready to respond for emerging contingency requirements,” Holtman said. “This is another mechanism that we can leverage to increase our warfighter readiness.”
