Air Force Refueling Operations

Action shots of military jets during aerial refueling missions, demonstrating the operational capabilities and coordination of air force units.

A pair of U.S. Air Force F-15C aircraft over the Gulf of Mexico.

011113-F-2171A-021. Base: Randolph Air Force Base State: Texas (TX) Country: United States Of America (USA)

1990s USAF CONCEPT FOR F-15 UNMANNED COMBAT AIR VEHICLE UCAV AIR FORCE AVIATION TRIANGLE SHAPE DRONE ESCORT EXPERIMENTAL

A four-ship formation of aircraft flying from right to left, includes an EF-111A Raven, an F-111D and two F-111F models from the 27th Fighter Wing. The wing is transitioning from the D models to F models and adding the EF-111A. Base: Cannon Air Force Base State: New Mexico (NM) Country: United States Of America (USA)

010909-F-1279W-019. State: Florida (FL) Country: United States Of America (USA)

DN-SC-87-05664. Country: Unknown

F-15DJ Eagle of the Japan Air Self Defense Force's Hiko Kyodatai aggressor squadron

An air-to-air, left side view of three Strike Fighter Squadron 136 (VFA-136) F/A-18C Hornet aircraft flying in echelon. Country: Unknown

DF-SC-88-08412. State: Nevada (NV) Country: United States Of America (USA)

DF-ST-86-08152. State: Connecticut (CT) Country: United States Of America (USA)

An F-16 assigned to the Oklahoma Air National Guards 138th Fighter Wing disconnects from a KC-135 Stratotanker after receiving fuel, May 19, 2022. (Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Daniel Ter Haar)

Right side view of a F-14B Tomcat aircraft of Fighter Squadron 143 (VF-143), the Pukin' Dogs, dropping a Mark 83 1,000 pound bomb over the bombing range. The pilot of the aircraft is LT. Chris Blaschum and the radar Intercept officer (RIO) is LT. Jack Liles. Base: Naval Air Station, Fallon State: Nevada (NV) Country: United States Of America (USA)

An F-117A Nighthawk, 9th Fighter Squadron, 49th Fighter Wing, flies off the left wing of a KC-135R, 351st Aerial Refueling Squadron (ARS), 100th Air Refueling Wing (ARW). The F-117A is enroute to Kuwait on the longest fighter deployment since the Vietnam War. Base: Raf Mildenhall Country: Great Britain / England (GBR)

An F-16 Fighting Falcon from the 150th Fighter Wing, New Mexico Air National Guard, Kirtland AFB, N.M., flies over the Australian coastline. The F-16 participating in Australia's largest air defense exercise, PITCH BLACK '96, held at RAAF bases at Darwin, and Tindal in the Northern Territory and RAAFB Curtain in Western Australia. U.S. forces including Air Force F-16 and F-15 fighters, B-52 bombers, KC-10 tankers, C-141 transports and E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft; Marines and Army teamed up with troops from Australia and Singapore during 15 July to 2 August 1996.Published in AIRMAN Magazine November 1996Exact Date Shot Unknown. An F-16 Fighting Falcon from the 150th Fighter Wing, New Mexico Air National Guard, Kirtland AFB, N.M., flies over the Australian coastline. The F-16 participating in Australia's largest air defense exercise, PITCH BLACK '96, held at RAAF bases at Darwin, and Tindal in the Northern Territory and RAAFB Curtain in Western Australia. U.S. forc

South Korea: A 3rd Tactical Fighter Wing F-4E Phantom II Drops a GBU-15 Modular Glide Bomb. (Exer. Team Spirit '85)

DN-SC-05-01688. Base: San Diego State: California (CA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

DF-ST-88-05147. Base: English Channel

020204-F-1631A-002. Base: Zaragosa Air Base Country: Spain (ESP) Scene Major Command Shown: USAFE

The 412th Test Wing launched 419 Flight Test Squadrons B-1B Lancer from Edwards Air Force Base, California, to conduct a flyover during NFL Monday Night Footballs San Francisco 49ers vs Los Angeles Rams game at Levi's Stadium, October 3.

DF-ST-87-11198. Country: Spain (ESP)

First lieutenant kite J.P. Soolsma, classified by 313 Squadron, with 'student-flyer' first lieutenant c.a.j.m. Frijters. Photo belongs to the photo report, which is created for the benefit of the 'operational, the Royal Netherlands Air Force in operation' by Wim Cock from 1983.

An air-to-air front view of a 495th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-111F aircraft flying a mission out of Moron Air Base, Spain, during Open Gate '89. Open Gate is a Joint Chiefs of STAFF/NATO exercise designed to simulate air and sea power tactics required to keep the Straits of Gibraltar open during a crisis. Subject Operation/Series: OPEN GATE '89 Country: Unknown

U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles, assigned to the 335th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, fly alongside Saudi Arabian Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles behind an HC-130J Combat King, assigned to the 26th Expeditionary Rescue Squadron, during an agile combat employment exercise Agile Spartan within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, Sep. 5, 2022. Agile Spartan provides training opportunities that mimic current and future combat environments.

030924-F-7823A-002. Base: New York State: New York (NY) Country: United States Of America (USA) Scene Major Command Shown: NORTHCOM

An F-4 Phantom II aircraft takes part in Amalgam '87, a joint U.S./Canadian air defense exercise. Country: United States Of America (USA)

030811-F-5040D-001. Base: Mountain Home Air Force Base State: Idaho (ID) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Polish Air Force M-346 during aerobatic maneuvers.

An Israeli Air Force F-16I Sufa taking off.

The U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron "Thunderbirds practice their act in preparation for the Shaw Air & Space Expo at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, April 1, 2022. The team is composed of eight pilots, four support officers, four civilians and more than 100 enlisted personnel performing in almost 30 job specialties.

A Fighter Squadron 2 (VF-2) F-14A Tomcat aircraft, its engines on maximum afterburner, climbs during a flight off the coast of Southern California. Country: Pacific Ocean (POC)

U.S. Air Force F-16s from the 51st Fighter Wing joined with Republic of Korea F-35As to escort two U.S. B-1B strategic bombers entering the Korean Air Defense Identification Zone and conducted a combined flight in a formation on Nov. 19, 2022. The training demonstrated the ROK-US combined defense capability and posture based on the alliance's overwhelming power and the U.S. ironclad commitment to providing extended deterrence in defense of the Korean Peninsula.

An A-10 II Thunderbolt leads a formation of two F-16 Fighting Falcons and an F-15 Eagle fighter over the German countryside. The aircraft are all assigned to the 52nd Fighter Wing at Spangdahlem, the only U.S. Air Force fighter base in Germany. Exact Date Shot Unknown. Published in AIRMAN Magazine October 1997. Base: Spangdahlem Air Base State: Rheinland-Pfalz Country: Deutschland / Germany (DEU)

Maj. Phillip Stein readies his F-16C Fighting Falcon for flight prior to a training mission Dec. 17, 2014, at Atlantic City Air National Guard Base, N.J. Stein is an F-16 pilot with the New Jersey Air National Guard's 177th Fighter Wing.

A KC-135R, F-15's and a F-16 from the 366th Air Wing, Mountain Home AFB, Idaho, fly over the pyramids of Egypt. Subject Operation/Series: BRIGHT STAR Base: Cairo Country: Egypt (EGY)

An F-16 Fighting Falcon assigned to the 64th Aggressor Squadron flies over the Nevada Test and Training Range during Weapons School Integration 22-A at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, May 19, 2022. The 64th AGRS is currently assisting the U.S. Air Force Weapons School by providing realistic threat replication for students participating in the Weapons School Integration exercise.

Military Jets Fixed Wing Boeing Aviat Airplanes F-15C Eagle air superiority fighter formation winter

An air-to-air right side view of four F-15 Eagle aircraft from the 33rd Tactical Fighter Wing, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, flying in formation during Operation Ocean Venture. Subject Operation/Series: OCEAN VENTURE Country: Unknown

Malaysia, Kuantan Air Base, Line of United States Marine Corps F/A-18D Hornets in mist at flight lane

DF-SC-89-11133. Base: Unknown

DF-ST-88-08305. State: Utah (UT) Country: United States Of America (USA)

A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon prepares for an aerial refueling during Exercise Ballast Cannon 24.3 over an undisclosed location within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, Jan. 7, 2024. Ballast Cannon is a routine bilateral exercise occurring nearly quarterly with the Royal Bahraini Air Force, which focuses on strengthening the bonds between coalition forces and building a foundation for future engagements in support of the Combined Defense of the Arabian Peninsula.

U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles, assigned to the 335th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, fly alongside Saudi Arabian Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles during an agile combat employment exercise Agile Spartan within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, Sep. 5, 2022. Joint training enhances international partnership and interoperability in the interest of regional security.

A U.S. Air Force F-16 Falcon from the South Dakota Air National Guards 114th Fighter Wing flys behind a U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker from the Iowa Air National Guards 185thAir Refueling Wing over the Black Hills in South Dakota on June 27, 2023. The aircraft are part of a nationwide aerial refueling demonstration, commemorating the 100thanniversary of air refueling.

A U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II from Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, conducts aerial refueling with a 909th Air Refueling Squadron KC-135 Stratotanker over the Pacific Ocean, June 29, 2022. When working with the 909th ARS the capability and reach of the F-35A and other aircraft alike increase the Air Force's capability to maintain air superiority.

Aerial formation from right to left, F-16CJ Fighting Falcon, 20th Fighter Wing (FW) Shaw (SW) Air Force Base (AFB), South Carolina; F-15E Strike Eagle, 4th FW Seymour Johnson (SJ) AFB, North Carolina; and F-16CJ Fighting Falcon, 27th FW, Cannon (CC) AFB, New Mexico during 4th Aerospace Expeditionary Wing (AEW) in Doha, Qatar. The AEW was in country in support of Operation SOUTHERN WATCH. SOUTHERN WATCH enforces United Nations Security Council Resolution 688 that establishes a no-fly zone over Sourn Iraq below 32nd parallel. The missiles seen on Shaw (SW) AFB F-16 from wing tip in are AIM-120 advanced medium-range air-to-air missile (AMRAAM), AIM-9 Sidewinder, and.... Complete Scene Caption: Aerial formation from right to left, F-16CJ Fighting Falcon, 20th Fighter Wing (FW) Shaw (SW) Air Force Base (AFB), South Carolina; F-15E Strike Eagle, 4th FW Seymour Johnson (SJ) AFB, North Carolina; and F-16CJ Fighting Falcon, 27th FW, Cannon (CC) AFB, New Mexico during the 4th Aerospace Expedit

August 26, 2010 - U.S. Navy T-45 Goshawk training aircraft fly in formation over the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) to celebrate the Naval Air Training Command's one millionth flight hour with the Goshawk. The twin-seat, single-engine Goshawk has prepared student aviators to transition to Navy and Marine Corps fleet aircraft for the past 18 years.

F-4G Phantom fighter aircraft from the 35th Tactical Fighter Wing, Tactical Air Command, foreground, and the 52nd Tactical Fighter Wing, U.S. Air Force Europe, background fly over a pier on the coast of Bahrain during Operation Desert Shield. The aircraft are armed with AGM-88 high-speed, anti-radiation, air-to-surface missiles.. Subject Operation/Series: DESERT SHIELD Country: Bahrain(BHR)

A Bulgarian Air Force MiG-21bis armed with R-60 missiles.

The United States Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, known as the Thunderbirds, perform for the Airshow London Skydrive in London, Ontario, September, 9, 2022. This was the Thunderbirds second performance in Canada for the 2022 season.

FA18 Swiss Air Force military jets escort civilian airfields in the Swiss Alps

June 12, 2009 - Mirage F1CR of the French Air Force over France, east of the city of Tours. The Mirage F1CR is a dedicated reconnaissance fighter plane that also have secondary air-to-ground and air-to-air task.

A U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor and P-38 Lightning fly side-by-side during the California Capital Airshow at Mather Airport in Sacramento, California, Oct. 1, 2022.

Air to air right side view of a formation of five F-15 Eagle fighters assigned to and lead by the flag ship of the 405th Tactical Training Wing (TTW) flying over flight line and ramps at Luke AFB, Arizona. Front to rear the aircraft are assigned to, 555th, 550th TFTS (Tactical Fighter Training Squadron), 405th TTW, 426th and 461st TFTS, Luke AFB, Arizona. Exact Date Shot Unknown. Country: Unknown

Two F-16's from Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, fly in formation over Northern Arizona before sunset.

An air-to-air left side view of F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft flying in formation over the city of Tampa during a training flight conducted by instructors of the 56th Tactical Training Wing. Base: Tampa State: Florida (FL) Country: United States Of America (USA)

The United States Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, known as the Thunderbirds, perform for the Airshow London Skydrive in London, Ontario, September, 9, 2022. This was the Thunderbirds second performance in Canada for the 2022 season.

020228-F-2341K-007. Subject Operation/Series: NOBLE EAGLE State: District Of Columbia (DC) Country: United States Of America (USA)

031201-F-6701P-001. Base: Ramstein Air Base State: Rheinland-Pfalz Country: Deutschland / Germany (DEU) Scene Major Command Shown: USAFE

DF-ST-89-01722. Country: West Germany (FRG)

Three F-16 Fighting Falcons assigned to the 64th Aggressor Squadron perform a flyover above Las Vegas, Nevada, in honor of 9/11 on Sept. 11, 2022. The flyover was dedicated to the 2,977 people who lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001 and to the more than 6,000 others who were injured.

DF-ST-88-05153. Country: Scotland (SCT)

Three F-16 Fighting Falcons assigned to the 64th Aggressor Squadron perform a flyover above downtown Las Vegas, Nevada, in honor of 9/11 on Sept. 11, 2022. The flyover was dedicated to the 2,977 people who lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001 and to the more than 6,000 others who were injured.

DF-ST-86-04057. Country: United Kingdom (GBR)

Five F-15 Eagle aircraft of the 405th Tactical Training Wing fly past a rock formation rising from the fog-covered floor of Monument Valley. State: Arizona (AZ) Country: United States Of America (USA)

May 25, 2006 - A P-51 Mustang, an F-16 Fighting Falcon, an F-15 Eagle, and an A-10 Thunderbolt II fly over New York City.

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