The latest air-to-air refuelling trials by Airbus
Defence and Space have involved the C295W
medium transport acting as a tanker for the
H225M Caracal helicopter.
December’s demonstration, announcedon January 17 in conjunction with Airbus
Helicopters, involved contacts at various speeds- both crews reporting smooth and simple
operation. The system is now being offered to
existing and prospective C295 operators.
A C295W refuels an H225M Caracal. The trials follow recent air-to-air refuelling tests between
two C295Ws. Airbus Defence and SpaceC295W Refuelling Trials
KC-10s Being Swopped for KC-46s
USAF officials have chosen Joint Base
McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey, and
Travis AFB, California, as the preferred
locations for the next two active-duty-led
Boeing KC-46A Pegasus tanker units.
Forty-eight KC-46As will replace KC-10AExtenders assigned to the 305th and 22nd
Air Mobility Wings at the two bases from
2019.
The USAF has a requirement for 479
tankers. Altus AFB, Oklahoma, McConnell
AFB, Kansas, Pease Air National GuardStation, New Hampshire, and Seymour
Johnson AFB, North Carolina, were
previously named as future KC-46 basing
locations. Delivery of the rst of 33 KC-46As
to McConnell and Altus is expected to begin
this autumn.http://www.aviation-news.co.uk 11Euro ghter Typhoons were among RAF and Royal Navy assets that shadowed the Russian aircraft carrier Kuznetsov and its support vessels as
it passed close to UK territorial waters on January 24. The ship was returning from the Mediterranean where its aircraft had been conducting
operations over Syria. Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon said: “We’re man-marking these vessels every step of the way around the UK as part
of our steadfast commitment to keep Britain safe.” © Crown copyright 2017Typhoons Shadow the Kuznetsov
MILITARY NEWS
RAF E-3Ds
Back Flying
The UK Ministry of Defence (MOD)
announced on January 12 that the
RAF’s Boeing E-3D Sentry AWACS
has returned to operational status
following a grounding order issued
last November. No.8 Squadron’s
eet of six operational E-3Ds had
been grounded after the discovery of
electrical wiring problems and cabin
conditioning systems that have now
been recti ed. The MOD has not
con rmed how many aircraft have been
returned to operational tasking. The
Sentries returned to RAF Waddington,
Lincolnshire last December following
a runway rebuild during which the
eet was temporarily based at RAF
Coningsby, Lincolnshire.11-14_military_newsDC.mfDC.mf.indd 11 06/02/2017 15: