RAAF KC-30 refuels F-35

The F-35 program is gaining a lot of momentum in recent months. Over the summer, an Italian KC-767 went to Edwards and was certified to refuel the F-35s, which will allow them to travel from Italy to the US early next year. Now a Royal Australian Air Force KC-30A has traveled to Edwards, and over a 4 hour mission hooked to an F-35A 59 times, with five of them transferring over 43,000 lbs of fuel to the F-35.

This is an important step for both aircraft. It's a step towards FOC for the KC-30, as well as an expansion of the F-35 capabilities. The RAAF is expected to get 2 more KC-30s in 2018. By 2023, only the 24 F-18, and 12 E-18s will require probe and drogue refueling. The rest of their aircraft will use the boom.

The KC-30 was removed from the Projects of Concern list early this year, after extensive work on the boom. It was put on the list in 2010, and Airbus in Spain put a lot of work into redesigning the boom and solving the issues it was having.

In a first for the Royal Australian Air Force, an Airbus Defence & Space KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft has conducted refuelling contacts with a Lockheed Martin F-35A fighter.

The four hour sortie took place from Edwards AFB in California, and saw the KC-30A perform 59 boom contacts, says Australia’s Department of Defence in a statement. Of these, five contacts were “wet” and included the transfer of 43,200lb of fuel to the USAF F-35A.

“Our KC-30A is an essential force multiplier,” says air force chief AM Leo Davies. “Mid-air refuelling is critical to ensuring global reach for our aircraft, our people and our equipment. Refuelling between the KC-30A and F-35A is an important step towards the KC-30A’s achievement of Final Operational Capability (FOC) and represents continued progress in the development of the F‑35A.”

www.flightglobal.com...

YAY something of ours that works Joking thats great news..All works in well with the RAAF being able to become the next arm of the USAAF..

a reply to: Zaphod58
Good on Lockheed. Every now and then, I miss that place, work, and people I worked with.
But being retired is so much better. 26 years was enough. It's a shame that most of the younger
people won't be able to stay anywhere working that long and get a pension.

But please carry on youngsters, we need you to keep the economy going. And Thanks