Omega First to Conduct Contracted Air-to-Air Refueling to a 5th Generation Fighter Aircraft

Omega Aerial Refueling Services has completed the first successful instance of aerial refueling by a commercial tanker aircraft to boom capable fighter aircraft, by a commercial tanker aircraft to an Air National Guard fighter aircraft, and by a commercial tanker aircraft to a 5th Generation fighter aircraft.

On November 1, 2023, Omega’s boom-equipped KDC-10B tanker aircraft refueled four Hawaii Air National Guard F-22 Raptor 5th Generation fighter aircraft during a training mission based out of Hawaii. During the training mission, Omega offloaded 10,000 to each F-22 Raptor. Omega is proud to have supported the 199th Fighter Squadron in this groundbreaking mission.

After the completion of this training mission, Omega flew to Osan Air Base to support the Pacific Air Forces in training prior to and travel to participate in the multinational exercise COMMANDO SLING in the first instance of contracted aerial refueling to the U.S. Air Force.

Omega’s boom-equipped KDC-10B tanker aircraft are former Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) KDC-10B aircraft. Omega received its first former RNLAF KDC-10B aircraft in November 2019 and the second in November 2021. The addition of these boom-equipped KDC-10 tankers gives Omega the capability to potentially refuel every operative type of receiver aircraft in U.S. military inventory, including U.S. Air Force aircraft.

Omega also offers probe and drogue refueling utilizing a third KDC-10 aircraft featuring wing-mounted drogue pods, converted by Omega and part of the Omega fleet since 2008. Omega also offers probe and drogue refueling support utilizing two other KC-707A aircraft with centerline refueling systems.

Omega is the global leader in contracted air-to-air refueling, providing both probe and drogue refueling and boom refueling support. Since 2000, Omega has flown more than 10,000 missions and offloaded more than 350,000,000 pounds of fuel. Omega is proud to support U.S. military and allied aircraft across the globe.