{"id":58041,"date":"2019-03-07T19:37:39","date_gmt":"2019-03-07T19:37:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2019\/03\/07\/australia-continues-to-pursue-coalition-refueling-trials-what-works-and-doesnt-so-far\/"},"modified":"2026-08-18T20:58:38","modified_gmt":"2026-08-18T20:58:38","slug":"australia-continues-to-pursue-coalition-refueling-trials-what-works-and-doesnt-so-far","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/digital-show-dailies\/avalon\/2019\/03\/07\/australia-continues-to-pursue-coalition-refueling-trials-what-works-and-doesnt-so-far\/","title":{"rendered":"Australia continues to pursue coalition refueling trials. What works \u2014 and doesn\u2019t \u2014 so far?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

MELBOURNE, Australia \u2014 Australia plans to continue conducting refueling trials with the Airbus KC-30A tanker aircraft, as the country seeks to expand the type\u2019s flexibility in supporting coalition operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speaking at the Avalon Airshow<\/a>, Flight Lt. Kevin Baker, a test pilot from No. 33 Squadron of the Royal Australian Air Force, which flies the KC-30A Multi Role Tanker Transport, said the receiver aircraft are from other nations and include U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles, Republic of Singapore Air Force F-15SG Eagles, and Japan\u2019s Mitsubishi F-2.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is no set schedule yet for the refueling trials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Australia\u2019s efforts to certify the KC-30A MRTT, which is based on the Airbus A330 airliner, with foreign receivers began in 2015, when it sent an aircraft to the United States for refueling trials with various receiver aircraft. Since then, the RAAF has certified the KC-30A with U.S Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps aircraft such as the Lockheed Martin F-35A\/B Lightning II, the F-16C Fighting Falcon and the Boeing B-1B Lancer bomber, as well as the F\/A-18 Hornet, the Boeing F\/A-18E\/F Super Hornet and the EA-18G Growler, types which are also flown by the RAAF.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

British, German and Saudi Tornado jets, French Rafale fighters, Indian Sukhoi Su-30MKI aircraft and Singapore\u2019s F-16C\/D fighters are among the aircraft certified to refuel from the RAAF\u2019s KC-30s. These certifications will be accompanied by the release of a standards related document, an annex to NATO Allied Tactical Publication 3.3.4.2, which defines all air-to-air refueling restrictions and envelopes for allied aircraft, and provides foreign partner nations with the safest practice for pairing the aircraft as well as limitations and restrictions during refueling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Australia has deployed the KC-30A in support of coalition air operations in the Middle East, and the type has previously been described as the \u201ctanker of choice\u201d for coalition operations by senior RAAF officers owing to its rate of availability and fuel offload capability.<\/p>\n\n\n\t