Royal Air Force Conducts a First Air-to-Air Refueling With German Tanker

RAF Typhoons conducted the operation with an Atlas A400M.

Kimberly Johnson

Friday, February 21, 2025 at 05:01 PM ET

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Edited By: tccjeremy

RAF Typhoons conducted the operation with an Atlas A400M. [Credit: German Air Force]

Key Takeaways:

The Royal Air Force (RAF) successfully conducted its first air-to-air refueling of Typhoon jets using a German Air Force Atlas A400M tanker aircraft.
This operation, performed during both day and night flights in the Middle East, aims to increase the flexibility and agility of air operations for the International Counter Daesh Coalition.
The initiative strengthens international coalition capabilities by qualifying RAF pilots to refuel from diverse aircraft types, despite subtle operational differences compared to their standard Voyager tankers.

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The Royal Air Force (RAF) has conducted its first air-to-air refueling of Typhoons with a German Air Force Atlas A400M in an operation aimed at increasing capability as part of an international coalition.

The Typhoon pilots conducted the operations during both day and night flights in order to qualify in refueling from different aircraft types, RAF said. The aircraft are based in the Middle East and operating as part of the International Counter Daesh Coalition.