Metrea Announces First Ever Commercial Aerial Refueling of US Air Force Aircraft

Metrea is proud to have been part of a historic first by providing commercial air-to-air refueling to U.S. Air Force RC-135 and E-3 aircraft in support of exercise RESOLUTE HUNTER. While U.S. Navy and Marine Corps units regularly use commercial aerial refueling services for training and support, this marks the first time that U.S. Air Force aircraft have used commercial aerial refueling.






From June 23 through June 29, Metrea Strategic Mobility (MSM) provided four aerial refueling support missions for RC-135 and E-3 aircraft in support of exercise RESOLUTE HUNTER. The total included 13 boom contacts and nearly 90,000 pounds of fuel offloaded, providing both aerial refueling training for the RC-135 and E-3 crews, and enabling them to extend their participation in the RESOLUTE HUNTER exercise.

"It was fitting that we could support the US Air Force in achieving this major milestone during the same week that we marked the 100th anniversary of aerial refueling," said Jon "Ty" Thomas, Head of Metrea's Air and Space Group. "Our team worked closely with NAVAIR, Air Combat Command, and the receiver RC-135 and E-3 units to pull this off and deliver the training effect needed. We look forward to supporting more US Air Force refueling requirements as well as increasing demand from allies and partners."

An RC-135 Rivet Joint assigned to the 55th Wing from Offutt Air Force Base was the first to receive commercial air-to-air refueling, followed by an E-3 Sentry assigned to the 552nd Air Control Wing from Tinker Air Force Base.

For Metrea Strategic Mobility this marks another historic milestone, after recently completing the first ever commercial boom refueling in April 2023 in support of a U.S. Navy P-8.

Metrea Strategic Mobility has sent a KC-135R to participate in the Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford, UK, July 14-16.


SOURCE Metrea