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Military Aircraft: In-flight Refuelling

Asked by Ben Obese-JectyConservativeMinistry of DefenceTabled Answered 29 June 2026UIN 11266

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the compatibility of current UK air-to-air refuelling capability with the new Probe Refuelling Adapter for the US Air National Guard Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II to facilitate NATO interoperability.

Answered by Luke Pollard

Air to air refuelling remains a key capability within the Air Mobility Force and increases the endurance, range, payload and flexibility of all capable receiver aircraft. The RAF currently operates a probe and drogue system, which is compatible with platforms of our NATO allies that employ this method of Air to Air Refuelling. This compatibility is delivered through the routine process outlined in NATO ATP-3.3.4.2 and published within respective National Standards Related Documents.

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