KC-10 In-Flight Refueling in Support of NE17

A U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor is refueled by a KC-10 Extender from the 9th Air Refueling Squadron, Travis Air Force Base, Calif., during exercise Northern Edge 2017, May 4. NE17 is Alaska’s premier joint training exercise designed to practice operations, techniques and procedures, as well as enhance interoperability among the services. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Westin Warburton)

KC-10 In-Flight Refueling in Support of NE17

A U.S. Air Force E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System approaches a KC-10 Extender from the 9th Air Refueling Squadron based out of Travis Air Force Base, Calif., to receive in-flight refueling during exercise Northern Edge 2017, May 4. NE17 is Alaska’s premier joint training exercise designed to practice operations, techniques and procedures as well as enhance interoperability among the services. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Westin Warburton)

KC-10 In-Flight Refueling in Support of NE17

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Erik Esquerra, a KC-10 Extender boom operator with the 9th Air Refueling Squadron based out of Travis Air Force Base, Calif., prepares to conduct in-flight refueling for multiple aircraft during Northern Edge 2017, May 4. NE17 is Alaska’s premier joint training exercise designed to practice operations, techniques and procedures as well as enhance interoperability among the services. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Westin Warburton)

KC-10 In-Flight Refueling in Support of NE17

A U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor approaches a KC-10 Extender from the 9th Air Refueling Squadron based out of Travis Air Force Base, Calif., to receive in-flight refueling during exercise Northern Edge 2017, May 4. NE17 is Alaska’s premier joint training exercise designed to practice operations, techniques and procedures as well as enhance interoperability among the services. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Westin Warburton)

KC-10 In-Flight Refueling in Support of NE17

Tankers essential to keeping NE17 aircraft flying

Published May 10, 2017
By Staff Sgt. Westin Warburton
NE17 Joint Information Bureau

JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska -- Exercise Northern Edge 2017 highlights the interoperability of the most advanced fighter aircraft 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, California.

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 Air Force airframe within minutes. Not limited to United States aircraft, KC-10 crews have the capability to refuel any NATO 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 thousands of miles from home base, making the aircraft vital to mission success.

With in-flight refueling, the fighters, bombers, cargo and reconnaissance aircraft are able to perform their jobs more efficiently and effectively, added Reineke.

Two KC-10 aircraft are deployed from Travis AFB to support NE17.