Neptune Falcon operation shows capabilities of aircraft

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Renni Thornton
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE,Calif. --  This year marks the 30th anniversary of one of the Air Force's most formidable weapons systems.The KC-10 Extender is an Air Mobility Command advanced tanker and cargo aircraft asset, designed to provide increased global mobility for U.S. Armed Forces.

While the KC-10's primary mission is aerial refueling, it often combines the tasks of a tanker and cargo aircraft by refueling fighters and simultaneously carries the fighter support personnel and equipment on overseas deployment.

Recently, air mobility leaders proved another capability of the modified DC-10.

Four KC-10's, two C-17 Globemaster IIIs, and one C-5 Galaxy from Travis took part in a unique operation as part of an exercise March 20 through 26 to establish air superiority among the heavy tankers. The purpose of the exercise, known as Neptune Falcon, was to prove sustainability and surge operations in a restrictive environment, said Capt. Ryan Wagner, 6th Air Refueling Squadron, KC-10 aircraft commander.

The mass launch, coordinated between the 6th Air Refueling Squadron here and the 2nd Air Refueling Squadron, Joint Base McGuire-Fort Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., was the work of many Air Force members from across the country, said Captain Wagner.

One unique aspect of the mission was the formations of the aircraft.

"This exercise focused our aircrew on executing long-duration formation flying, both as tanker and receiver cells," said Lt. Col. James Alonzo, 660th Aircraft Maintenance Squadorn commander. " While both McGuire and Travis Air Force Bases accomplish large formation departures on a regular basis, the missions typically have different external users and the training event priorities do not typically have aircraft remaining as a formation for an extended period of time," said Colonel Alonzo.

Overall, the mission garnered 33 sorties, offloading more than 2 million pounds of fuel to external users. In addition, the aircraft received nearly 3 million pounds of fuel from four KC-135 Stratotankers that also participated in the exercise.

Moreover, the exercise used a portion of the KC-10s as receiver aircraft for 4-ship KC-135 tanker formation.