MID AIR REFUELING

Sept. 6, 2018

The Indian Air Force successfully carried out the first ever mid-air refuelling of the indigenously build fighter aircraft LCA Tejas MK 1 with an IL-78 MKI tanker.

About:

Mid Air refuelling is also known as in-flight refuelling (IFR), air-to-air refuelling (AAR), and tanking.
It is the process of transferring aviation fuel from one military aircraft (the tanker) to another (the receiver) during flight.
The two main refuelling methods are:

Probe and drogue

This method employs a flexible hose that trails from the tanker aircraft.

A drogue (a small windsock) at the end of the hose stabilizes it in flight and provides a funnel for the aircraft being refuelled, which inserts a probe into the hose.

Flying Boom

The boom is a rigid, telescoping tube that an operator on the tanker aircraft extends and inserts into a receptacle on the aircraft being refuelled.

Benefits:
- Because the receiver aircraft can be topped up with extra fuel in the air, air refuelling can allow a take-off with a greater payload.
- The procedure allows the receiving aircraft to remain airborne longer.
- By reducing the number of aircraft needed to maintain a combat air patrol (CAP), it reduces the number of maintenance personnel needed.
Global scenario: Since the Vietnam War, it has been extensively used in large-scale military operations for many different military aircraft operations.

Recent development:

The IL-78 MKI tanker was launched from its base in Agra while the specially modified fighter aircraft LCA Tejas MK 1 was launched from Gwalior.
The specially modified Tejas aircraft carried out a series of test profiles including a ‘Dry Contact' with the tanker.
Significance: The ability to carry out Air-to-Air Refuelling is one of the critical requirements for the LCA to achieve 'Final Operational Clearance'.

Source : PIB