Italian KC-767 conducts Collective Aerial Refueling Certification

Starting on September 5th, a SAAB Gripen flying out of Sardinia, a French Mirage 2000, and Rafael flying out of Istres began conducting in flight refueling tests from an Italian Air Force KC-767 from 14 Stormo, based at Pratica di Mare, and flown by a crew from the RSV test flying wing.

Europe is working on developing a common operating capacity that would allow Italian tankers to refuel all types of aircraft used by European forces. The concept would allow a much more flexible response anywhere in the world, by any European forces.

Earlier this year RAF Typhoons were refueled by an Italian KC-767 on the way to LIMA 2013 in Malaysia. Europe has recently found out the hard way that a lack of tankers can hinder operations severely, and is working to rectify that situation.

Beginning on Sept. 5, Swedish SAAB Gripen deployed to Decimomannu airbase, in Sardinia, and French Rafale and Mirage 2000 aircraft, operating from Istres, France, conducted flying activity aimed at achieving the technical and operational certification to refuel from the Italian Air Force KC-767 tankers.

The “collective” aerial refueling certification activity, organized by Italy with the European Defence Agency (EDA) and the Movement Coordination Centre Europe (MCCE), falls within a series of European initiatives to develop and implement common operational capacities.

Aerial refuelers are considered among the most important assets in any military air campaign.

The recent Air War in Libya highlighted the lack of tankers among the European partners.

theaviationist.com...-3BvVDA1

reply to post by Zaphod58


This did a great display with two Typhoons at RIAT this year, low and slow with the hoses trailing. Really cool stuff.

Originally posted by Araqiel
reply to post by Zaphod58

 

This did a great display with two Typhoons at RIAT this year, low and slow with the hoses trailing. Really cool stuff.

Damn you beat me to it!! It does look like a lovely plane, is there any reason that some Air Forces have gone for the KC-767 and others have gone for the A330 MRTT? I would have assumed that they would have gone with the A330 purely because it holds more fuels & has a longer range...

reply to post by Florasaurus


That's a big part of it. More fuel, more cargo, longer range. That means fewer aircraft to do the mission as opposed to the 767.

reply to post by Zaphod58



It's kind of like the KC-135 to KC-10 argument. The KC-10 was designed as a cargo/air refueling aircraft and the KC-135 was designed as a air refueling/cargo aircraft. The role of the KC-10 is worldwide rapid deployment of a squadron of fighters as the 135 is more of a work horse jet. Thats why they only built 60 (59 left) KC-10's and a bazillion 135's. Also, the KC10 was originally designed for NATO to be able to take off from the east coast of the US, fly to Europe, offload a crapload of fuel to its fighters in tow, and return to the US without landing. I'm assuming thats what the difference between the 767 and Airbus is as well. My guess is airbus will when out the KC-Y competition with a large aircraft refueler, with KC-Z being a secret........


The KC-767 was supposed to be the next air force tanker before the big scandel at boeing in the early 2000's with that female exec. We were to lease the KC-767's, then buy them, then buy some and lease some, then cancelled, etc....When KC-X opened up, Boeing changed to a new model of 767 and got the new designation of KC-46 after winning the bid over EADS. Unfortuately for EADS, they couldn't keep crap (including a boom!) from falling off the plane in flight

reply to post by boomer135



If you look at the MRTT operators, as opposed to the 767 operators you'll see that pretty much agrees with what we've both said. The MRTT is operated by forces that are way out of the way (RAAF), or major players (RAF, RSAF, Oman).