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.
President Donald Trump on July 4 signed into law $150 billion in defense funds as part of the tax-and-spending package known as the “One Big, Beautiful Bill” after congressional Republicans approved the legislation in narrow, drawn-out votes earlier this week.
