ATLANTIC OCEAN - Eight KC-10 Extenders, including two from the 32nd Air Refueling Squadron, took off to refuel seven C-17 Globemaster IIIs over the Atlantic Ocean as they began their participation in Exercise Trident Juncture Nov. 3, 2015.
Exercise Trident Juncture includes 36,000 personnel from more than 30 nations and demonstrates NATO’s increased level of capabilities in joint modern warfare.
The 32nd ARS’s aerial refueling capabilities made it possible for the C-17s, carrying more than 500 U.S. Army 82nd Airborne Division paratroopers, to reach Spain without stopping in between.
“Without us, other aircraft with less fuel capacity will have to land and refuel more often,” said U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Amy James, 32nd ARS boom operator. “We enable worldwide missions to be completed more efficiently.”
The Air Force has more than 400 tankers capable of refueling U.S. and many coalition aircraft.
“The way we rely on air refueling is unique compared to the rest of the world,” said Maj. Mitch Ehresman, 305th Air Mobility Wing Current Operations flight chief. “Other nations have fewer than 10 tankers in their fleet.”
The ability to move forces and equipment anywhere on earth in a matter of hours is instrumental to the collective defense of NATO and other partner nations.
“We are able to support combatant commander requirements worldwide by enabling assets to reach their destination as quickly as possible,” said Ehresman.
“It all comes down to time and range,” he added. “Without our fuel supply, C-17s couldn’t go directly to Spain and fighters would have much more limited time dropping ordnance downrange before landing to refuel.”
Thanks to aerial refueling capabilities, Mobility Air Forces have the ability to deliver America's might and mercy to any corner of the globe in a matter of hours.
“You can’t really get the job done worldwide without tanker support,” said Ehresman. “It’s an awesome capability that we have, and that’s really where we shine.”
| Date Taken: | 11.05.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 11.09.2015 10:58 |
| Story ID: | 181416 |
| Location: | ATLANTIC OCEAN |
| Web Views: | 27 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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