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Exercise Northern Edge 2017 highlights the interoperability of the most advanced fighter aircrafts in the United States arsenal, the F-22 Raptor and F-35B Lightning II. These fifth generation aircraft are a sight to behold, with their sleek edges and smooth curves. One can easily get caught up in all of the glamour of these airframes. What good are these aircraft though if they have no fuel to fly?
Insert the KC-10 Extender. With a max fuel load of 356,065 pounds, the KC-10 is an imperative mission asset.
“During this exercise, we can keep the fighters in the air all day, so that the pilots can focus on training and not landing to refuel,” said U.S. Air Force Capt. Nathan Reineke, 9th Air Refueling Squadron KC-10 pilot, Travis Air Force Base, Calif.
Strengthening joint interoperability is a top objective for NE17 and the KC-10 is essential for meeting mission needs. The aircraft has drogue and boom capability and can switch between the two options in about 60-90 seconds.
This capability allows the tanker to refuel an Air Force asset, switch to a Navy or Marine Corps asset, and then back to an AF airframe within minutes. Not limited to United States aircraft only, KC-10 crews have the capability to refuel any North Atlantic Treaty Organization aircraft in-flight.
“This training exercise is not our normal day-to-day business,” said Reineke. “We need [exercises like this] to be able to practice our skills and tactics in order to deploy with fighters. It’s crucial that we be one cohesive unit so that if and when we go against an adversary, we’re all on the same sheet of music.”
The KC-10 Extender can deliver 200,000 pounds of fuel to a receiver 2,200 statute miles from home base, making the aircraft vital to mission success.
With in-flight refueling, the fighters, bombers, cargo, and recon aircraft are able to perform their job more efficiently and effectively, added Reineke.
Two KC-10 aircraft are deployed from Travis AFB to support NE17, along with multiple KC-135 Stratotankers, and KC-130 Hercules from various locations across the globe to participate in the training exercise.
| Date Taken: | 05.04.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 05.08.2017 14:23 |
| Story ID: | 233041 |
| Location: | JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, AK, US |
| Web Views: | 38 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Tankers essential to keeping NE17 aircraft flying, by TSgt Westin Warburton, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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