An Australian KC-30 tanker is undergoing trials at Edwards AFB, Calif., to certify it to refuel US Air Force and other coalition aircraft. The Royal Australian Air Force KC-30 is the first of three international tankers Edwards is evaluating under the Coalition Tanker Aerial Refueling Certification program. “It gives us capability for the coalition effort. We don’t have to rely [solely] on US tankers to support our aircraft,” 418th Flight Test Squadron project manager Adrian Martinez said in a release. In addition to the RAAF KC-30, the program will test Italy’s KC-767, and the United Arab Emirates A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport for compatibility with the A-10, B-1, C-17, F-15, and F-16. The first phase of tests involving an F-16 kicked off at the end of last month, and stretches to Dec. 18. “Early next year we are planning to execute a portion of the aerial refueling testing that requires an instrumented C-17,” concluding with the A-10 next summer, added Martinez. The three international tankers are conducting a separate certification program with the F-35 Lightning II at Edwards, which will end with the UAE in mid-2016.
NATO Scrambles Fighter in Newest Response to Russian Drones
Sept. 16, 2025
NATO scrambled its first fighter Sept. 13 under its new plan to bolster its defenses against Russian air incursions that was put into place after an array of Russian drones flew into Polish airspace last week, the officials from the alliance’s military command said.
