Page 31 - AirForces Monthly - Issue 381 (December 2019)

airforcesintel.com
European

tankers gain

momentum

have executed around 350 AAR & Air-to-air Refuelling and other Above: Airbus has been working with the Spanish Air Force test centre and

missions. They have included Exchange of Services (ATARES) Ejército del Aire receivers to assist with the AAR certification of its A400M.
national training flights, cross- agreement using equivalent flying Here, Spanish A400M TK.23-03 ‘31-23’ (c/n 076) of Ala 31 leads the Luftwaffe’s
54+11 (c/n 054) of Lufttransportgeschwader 62. Airbus
national training, trail/ferry hours (EFH). The hours charged Below: Colonel Jurgen van der Biezen of the Royal Netherlands Air Force took
flights to and from theatres of can be based on a dedicated command of the MMF unit on July 16, and is currently training on the A330

operation, national/international slot, dedicated sortie, multi-user MRTT in Seville. The first four crews – each comprising two pilots and a boom
exercises (ie Trident Juncture, sortie, opportunity slot or any operator – are currently undergoing ground training with Airbus in Seville. Airbus
European Air Refuelling Training other bilateral AAR agreement.
[EART], Arctic Challenge, Red According to the EATC, these
Flag) and support for operational niche aircraft have been used
missions like Baltic Air Policing.” by NATO and allied partners
Each EATC member country with including Belgium, the Czech
tanker capability or AAR receivers Republic, Finland, France,
provides one point of contact for Germany, Italy, the Netherlands,
related missions in the National AAR Norway, Poland, Spain, Sweden,
Coordination Centre (NAARCC). the UK and the US, as well as
The NAARCC receives the NATO’s Heavy Airlift Wing and
requirements and translates them the NATO Airborne Early Warning
into an air transport request (ATR) & Control Force (NAEW&CF).
in the Management of European Air EATC is now working closely
Transport (MEAT) system. Within with the new Multinational
the ATR, a preferred tanker asset MRTT Fleet (MMF) as it ramps
can be requested to support the up its capabilities. Preparatory
mission, ie boom or hose/drogue. work started over a year ago
Payment for cross-nation AAR is and is almost complete. The
worked out under the Air Transport EATC spokesman explained:

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