Aerial Refueling Operations

Impressive aerial views of military aircraft during refueling missions, showcasing various aircraft types in action over clouded skies.

U.S. Air Force B-52 Bomber
U.S. Air Force B-52 Bomber
226 assets in this story
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Group of an A-50 AWACS airplane and Su-27 jet fighters of Russian Air Force.
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020630-F-5435R-017. Subject Operation/Series: ENDURING FREEDOM Country: Unknown
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An MQ-9 Reaper flies a training mission over the White Sands National Monument in Southern New Mexico.
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RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany - C-130J Super Hercules aircraft perform an aircraft tactical approach during the 37th Airlift Squadron 80th anniversary celebration at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, May 25, 2022. The 37 AS celebrated their 80th anniversary with various events that highlighted their history spanning from the Invasion of Normandy to Operation Desert Storm and recently with Operation Allies Refuge.
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010809-F-6335P-001. Base: Charleston Air Force Base State: South Carolina (SC) Country: United States Of America (USA)
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A KC-135 Stratotankers assigned to the 151st Air Refueling Wing and two F-35s assigned to Hill Air Force Base fly over Salt Lake City, Utah, during Operation Centennial Contact, June 27, 2023. During the operation, more than 150 aircraft flew above communities around the country and across the world to honor 100 years of air refueling excellence. Aerial refueling serves as a force multiplier, increasing the speed, range, lethality, flexibility and versatility of combat aircraft.
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PACIFIC OCEAN (July 31, 2017) An E/A-18G Growler assigned to the Vikings of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 129 is inspected prior to launch aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70). Carl Vinson is underway conducting carrier qualifications off the coast of Southern California.
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980721-N-2619S-004. Subject Operation/Series: RIMPAC '98 Country: Pacific Ocean (POC)
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An F-117A Nighthawk, 49th Fighter Wing, Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico, in flight. The stealth aircraft moved to Holloman AFB in 1992 and has been used on missions in Yugoslavia and Southwest Asia. This photograph is from the article "Hidden Valley Heaven" in the October 1999 issue of AIRMAN Magazine. Country: Unknown
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A two-ship of B-1B Lancers assigned to the 28th Bomb Squadron, Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, release chaff and flares while maneuvering over New Mexico during a training mission Feb. 24, 2010. Dyess celebrates the 25th anniversary of the first B-1B bomber arriving at the base.
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A 376th Strategic Wing KC-135R tanker aircraft from Kadena Air Base, Japan, takes off during Cope Thunder North, an exercise that tests aircrews' skills in strike, support, air defense and combat rescue roles. Units from the Canadian Forces, the U.S. Marine Corps, Alaska Air National Guard, Strategic Air Command and other Pacific Air Forces units are participating in the exercise.. Subject Operation/Series: COPE THUNDER NORTH Base: Eielson Air Force Base State: Alaska(AK) Country: United States Of America(USA)
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An MQ-1B Predator from the 46th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron takes off from Balad Air Base, Iraq, Thursday, June 12, 2008, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Since January 2008, more than 1,000 Predator sorties were flown out of Balad, lasting more than 20,000 hours. The MQ-1 Predator is a medium-altitude, long-endurance, remotely piloted aircraft. The MQ-1's primary mission is interdiction and conducting armed reconnaissance flights against critical, perishable targets.
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A C-130 Hercules aircraft releases three pallets containing c-rations over the German village of Neukirchen, for Army troops in the field during Exercise Reforger '81. Subject Operation/Series: REFORGER '81 Country: Deutschland / Germany (DEU)
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DF-SC-88-08407. State: California (CA) Country: United States Of America (USA)
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DF-ST-88-07181. State: California (CA) Country: United States Of America (USA)
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Two F/A-18A Hornet aircraft from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 531 (VFMA-531) takeoff during a training exercise. Base: Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe State: Hawaii (HI) Country: United States Of America (USA)
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American B52 bombers of USAF Strategic Air Command unleashing its bomb load over Vietnam. B52s flying out of Guam and Thailand were used in Arclight operations across South Vietnam and in opertations against the North such as Linebacker 1 and Linebacker 2. They caused immense damage and loss of life.
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020520-F-2902B-013. Subject Operation/Series: ENDURING FREEDOM Base: Bagram Air Base State: Parwan Country: Afghanistan (AFG)
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A 37th Tactical Airlift Squadron C-130E Hercules aircraft delivers cargo by a low altitude parachute extraction system (LAPES) airdrop at Templehof Central Airport during a demonstration. Base: Berlin Country: Deutschland / Germany (DEU)
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KANEOHE BAY (July 6, 2022) - A U.S. Air Force MQ-9 Reaper, assigned to the 49th Wing, lands at Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, during Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2022. Twenty-six nations, 38 ships, four submarines, more than 170 aircraft and 25,000 personnel are participating in RIMPAC from June 29 to Aug. 4 in and around the Hawaiian Islands and Southern California. The world's largest international maritime exercise, RIMPAC provides a unique training opportunity while fostering and sustaining cooperative relationships among participants critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the world's oceans. RIMPAC 2022 is the 28th exercise in the series that began in 1971.
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A U.S. Air Force chemical dispersing C-130 aircraft from the 910th Airlift Wing at Youngstown-Warren Air Reserve Station, Ohio, drops an oil dispersing chemical into the Gulf of Mexico as part of the Deepwater Horizon Response effort May 5, 2010. Members of the 910th Airlift Wing are in Mississippi to assist with response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The 910th AW specializes in aerial spray and is the Department of DefenseÕs only large area fixed wing aerial spray unit.
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A formation Breguet BR1150 Atlantic (SP-13A) maritime patrol yields (1969-1984) and Lockheed P2V-7B, P-2H & SP-2H Neptune maritime patrol flying (1961-1982) above the Dutch coast.
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Aerial of B-52G and B-52H aircraft parked in storage. They survive the desert heat because of a latex coating that's sprayed when they first arrive as part of a corrosion control process. Base: Tucson Air Force Base State: Arizona (AZ) Country: United States Of America (USA)
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DF-ST-89-06756. State: South Dakota (SD) Country: United States Of America (USA)
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A chart showing Soviet long-range strike and support Aircraft. PHOTO courtesy of Soviet Military Power Magazine. Country: Unknown