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Two Swedish Gripen C fighter aircrafts

13 February 2021

All About Air-to-Air Refueling

2 min read

Air-to-Air Refueling (AAR) increases the range and time an aircraft can fly significantly. A report in Flygvapenbloggen explains how it is done.

AAR is a demanding activity and requires patience, efficiency and precision from the parties involved. Firstly, it requires a tactically efficient location for the refueling aircraft to lead the fighter aircraft. Secondly, the aircraft involved must fly close together since everything is coordinated through commands in accordance with internationally established AAR rules and procedures. And lastly, an entire crew of six people is required to do various tasks during the activity.

The crew and the aircraft however, are not alone in this and they receive the much-needed help and support from the maintenance team. The maintenance crew lends their technical expertise and also assist during the flight preparations to ensure a smooth-sailing while saving time. They participate in equipment inspection, and in parts replacement as well if required.

AAR in Sweden is carried out by six TP 84 Hercules of the Transport Flight Squadron at Såtenäs. The exercises were carried out all over Sweden last year in Ronneby and Luleå where the Czech Air Force’s Gripen and the Finnish Air Force’s F-18 Hornets also participated.

Read the full story here.

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