A Royal Air Force Poseidon P-8 has been refuelled in UK airspace for the first time, during Exercise Cobra Warrior 25-2.
The sortie was carried out by 42 (Torpedo Bomber) Squadron during Exercise Cobra Warrior 25-2, with a USAF KC-135 Stratotanker from RAF Mildenhall extending a refuelling hose to the Poseidon mid-flight.
The procedure allowed the aircraft to remain airborne longer without returning to base, significantly expanding its operational range.
Squadron Leader Kane, who previously served on exchange with the US Navy and gained extensive experience testing Poseidon refuelling with both KC-135 and KC-46 tankers, captained the historic flight.
A spokesperson from RAF Lossiemouth said: “This is a major milestone for the UK Poseidon. The P-8 is already a versatile aircraft but being able to extend the time those missions can stay in the air will be of huge benefit to both the RAF and our allies.”
They added: “This exercise has also shown the importance of being able to operate with, and alongside, our allies. On behalf of the P8 crew I’d like to thank our US Air Force colleagues for aiding us in making the first AAR a success.”
Poseidons, operated by 42, 120 and 201 Squadrons from RAF Lossiemouth, are at the heart of the UK’s anti-submarine warfare and maritime surveillance mission. However, the type lacked a British refuelling option. The UK does not operate any boom-equipped tankers, meaning aircraft like the Poseidon and some other types must rely on US support to extend endurance.
The milestone comes just weeks after 42 Squadron was formally re-established at Lossiemouth in a ceremony attended by King Charles III. It also coincides with the 2025 iteration of Exercise Cobra Warrior, bringing together NATO partners for large-scale collective training.
O/T – The PLAN just conducted their first publicly disclosed launches of their J-35, J-15T and KJ-600 aircraft from their carrier Fujian. It’s the first time a fifth-generation fighter has been launched using an EMALS.
Yes but they are all rubbish and their Pilots are rubbish and their Emals are rubbish and their ships are rubbish and they are rubbish at fighting and and, and everything.
So there !
And they have no 100 year history and who gives a shite if they have twice the number of major surface combatants as the USN.. they are only pretend warships. We all know HMS massive is the best idea ever and one HMS massive is worth 10 normal warships.. because never in history has the side with the most stuff ever won….
We desperately need more P-8 airframes in service, just like everything else in HM armed forces use. The upcoming Defence investment plan is going to be crucial. We will find out how seriously the government is taking the defence of the nation.
It’s a disgrace that we can’t refuel our own aircraft! Only made worse by the fact we have so few we need to be able to maximise the time they spend on station. Classic MOD ineptitude.
That’s just silly, I’ve seen our aircraft being refueled many many times on station.
It depends which aircraft it is, some need probe refuelling like P8 which will need refitting in time.
Good… But, we should use this news as a reason to push the MoD to expand the MRTT’s that we have to be able to do this in house, adding our own Refueller Boom/Probe. And it’ll mean the fleet would be capable of coupling with the F-35As that were recently penned in by the PM.
… Another way to boost our Aerial Refuelling would be to modify the AirTanker contract so that the A400M’s could perform the Under Wing refuelling, as right now, they’re the exclusive providers to the RAF.
Sadly changing contracts is simply a way to take a huge pile of taxpayers money and hand it over to shareholders.
The Dutch had a tanker at RIAT that can refuel using a boom and also use drag hoses.
Yes, I think it’s high time we sought to renegotiate the MRTT contract and have booms fitted to our A330 fleet, either as part of a Contract Extension or Variation. I appreciate this would be an opportunity for AirTanker to load-up any response but a boom capability is increasingly becoming a necessity IMHO, what with F-35A being added to the list of boom receivers now coming into the RAF inventory. I dare say FR/Cobham and the like would be interested, no?
Now if only we had about 20 odd aircraft and the ability to mid air refuel them ourselves…NATO for ever..or else.