The crew of a US Navy P-8A observes a Royal Australian Air Force KC-30A tanker air-refuelling their aircraft during the fleet certification period of the Royal Australian Navy on 20 March 2022. (US Navy)

The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) is evolving its operational air-to-air refuelling (AAR) expertise to facilitate interoperability with allied countries.

On 20 March an Airbus KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) from the RAAF's No 33 Squadron carried out the first-ever operational AAR of a US Navy (USN) P-8A aircraft. The refuelling was conducted using the MRTT's Advanced Refuelling Boom System (ARBS).

In a statement, the office of the commander of the USN's Pacific Fleet said that the AAR was co-ordinated to facilitate interoperability between the RAAF and USN forces. The ‘customer' aircraft was a P-8A of the USN's Patrol Squadron 47 (VP-47).

The AAR was conducted during the fleet certification period of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). This consisted of exercises between the RAN and USN units, especially in anti-submarine warfare (ASW).

The crew of a US Navy P-8A observes a Royal Australian Air Force KC-30A tanker air-refuelling their aircraft during the fleet certification period of the Royal Australian Navy on 20 March 2022. (US Navy)

The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) is evolving its operational air-to-air refuelling (AAR) expertise to facilitate interoperability with allied countries.

On 20 March an Airbus KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) from the RAAF's No 33 Squadron carried out the first-ever operational AAR of a US Navy (USN) P-8A aircraft. The refuelling was conducted using the MRTT's Advanced Refuelling Boom System (ARBS).

In a statement, the office of the commander of the USN's Pacific Fleet said that the AAR was co-ordinated to facilitate interoperability between the RAAF and USN forces. The ‘customer' aircraft was a P-8A of the USN's Patrol Squadron 47 (VP-47).

The AAR was conducted during the fleet certification period of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). This consisted of exercises between the RAN and USN units, especially in anti-submarine warfare (ASW).

The crew of a US Navy P-8A observes a Royal Australian Air Force KC-30A tanker air-refuelling their aircraft during the fleet certification period of the Royal Australian Navy on 20 March 2022. (US Navy)

The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) is evolving its operational air-to-air refuelling (AAR) expertise to facilitate interoperability with allied countries.

On 20 March an Airbus KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) from the RAAF's No 33 Squadron carried out the first-ever operational AAR of a US Navy (USN) P-8A aircraft. The refuelling was conducted using the MRTT's Advanced Refuelling Boom System (ARBS).

In a statement, the office of the commander of the USN's Pacific Fleet said that the AAR was co-ordinated to facilitate interoperability between the RAAF and USN forces. The ‘customer' aircraft was a P-8A of the USN's Patrol Squadron 47 (VP-47).

The AAR was conducted during the fleet certification period of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). This consisted of exercises between the RAN and USN units, especially in anti-submarine warfare (ASW).

The crew of a US Navy P-8A observes a Royal Australian Air Force KC-30A tanker air-refuelling their aircraft during the fleet certification period of the Royal Australian Navy on 20 March 2022. (US Navy)

The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) is evolving its operational air-to-air refuelling (AAR) expertise to facilitate interoperability with allied countries.

On 20 March an Airbus KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) from the RAAF's No 33 Squadron carried out the first-ever operational AAR of a US Navy (USN) P-8A aircraft. The refuelling was conducted using the MRTT's Advanced Refuelling Boom System (ARBS).

In a statement, the office of the commander of the USN's Pacific Fleet said that the AAR was co-ordinated to facilitate interoperability between the RAAF and USN forces. The ‘customer' aircraft was a P-8A of the USN's Patrol Squadron 47 (VP-47).

The AAR was conducted during the fleet certification period of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). This consisted of exercises between the RAN and USN units, especially in anti-submarine warfare (ASW).

The crew of a US Navy P-8A observes a Royal Australian Air Force KC-30A tanker air-refuelling their aircraft during the fleet certification period of the Royal Australian Navy on 20 March 2022. (US Navy)

The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) is evolving its operational air-to-air refuelling (AAR) expertise to facilitate interoperability with allied countries.

On 20 March an Airbus KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) from the RAAF's No 33 Squadron carried out the first-ever operational AAR of a US Navy (USN) P-8A aircraft. The refuelling was conducted using the MRTT's Advanced Refuelling Boom System (ARBS).

In a statement, the office of the commander of the USN's Pacific Fleet said that the AAR was co-ordinated to facilitate interoperability between the RAAF and USN forces. The ‘customer' aircraft was a P-8A of the USN's Patrol Squadron 47 (VP-47).

The AAR was conducted during the fleet certification period of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). This consisted of exercises between the RAN and USN units, especially in anti-submarine warfare (ASW).

The crew of a US Navy P-8A observes a Royal Australian Air Force KC-30A tanker air-refuelling their aircraft during the fleet certification period of the Royal Australian Navy on 20 March 2022. (US Navy)

The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) is evolving its operational air-to-air refuelling (AAR) expertise to facilitate interoperability with allied countries.

On 20 March an Airbus KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) from the RAAF's No 33 Squadron carried out the first-ever operational AAR of a US Navy (USN) P-8A aircraft. The refuelling was conducted using the MRTT's Advanced Refuelling Boom System (ARBS).

In a statement, the office of the commander of the USN's Pacific Fleet said that the AAR was co-ordinated to facilitate interoperability between the RAAF and USN forces. The ‘customer' aircraft was a P-8A of the USN's Patrol Squadron 47 (VP-47).

The AAR was conducted during the fleet certification period of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). This consisted of exercises between the RAN and USN units, especially in anti-submarine warfare (ASW).