A Royal Netherlands Air Force KDC-10 tanker flew its first mission as part of Operation Inherent Resolve on Feb. 1, refueling multiple aircraft over a five and a half hour period. The tanker completely emptied its fuel during a mission from a base in Kuwait, refueling aircraft from Australia, Canada, Germany, and the US, according to a press release. About 30 Dutch airmen and the tanker had deployed from their home base in Eindhoven just days before the misison. The aircraft previously deployed to operations in Afghanistan in 2004 and was part of Operation Unified Protector in Libya in 2011.
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth visited the site of U.S. Space Command’s future home Dec. 12 and endorsed the move to establish the headquarters in Alabama after years of political back and forth.
