Air Force Conducts First Commercial Air-to-Air Refueling of Fighter

An F-16 was refueled during a proof-of-concept demonstration while en route from Osan Air Base, South Korea, to Singapore.

Kimberly Johnson

Friday, November 10, 2023 at 12:37 PM ET

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A commercial KDC‐10 tanker aircraft refuels a U.S. Air Force F‐16 Fighting Falcon from the 51st Fighter Wing en route to Commando Sling 23 at Paya Lebar Air Base, Singapore, on November 6. [Courtesy: U.S. Indo-Pacific Command]

Key Takeaways:

The U.S. Air Force successfully conducted its first commercial air-to-air refueling of a fighter jet (an F-16) during a flight from South Korea to an exercise in Singapore.
This proof-of-concept aims to enhance operational readiness and airpower projection by freeing up military tanker fleets for critical contingency requirements.
The commercial KDC-10 tanker used for the refueling also demonstrated its dual-role capability by transporting passengers and cargo alongside its primary mission.

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The U.S. Air Force has conducted its first commercial air-to-air refueling of a fighter jet in a proof-of-concept demonstration of a capability the service asserts will help build and maintain operational readiness while also further projecting airpower.

On Monday, a commercial KDC-10 tanker refueled an F-16 Fighting Falcon while it was en route from Osan Air Base, South Korea, to the Commando Sling 23 exercise taking place in Paya Lebar Air Base, Singapore. The bilateral training event with Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) and the Republic of Singapore Air Force is meant to bolster alliance capabilities in the region.