The plane KC767 of the Colombian Air Force carries out a refueling mission with "Super Hornet" aircraft of the United States Navy.
Las Vegas, Nevada (United States). The first flight mission in Red Flag 18-3 was accomplished with an important milestone for the Colombian Air Force, having made for the first time a refueling operation in flight for US warplanes, complying with NATO standards after following meticulously the procedures required to interoperate with military forces of other allied countries.
After making a preliminary planning to establish the necessary coordination in this complex exercise, the Kfir Squadron of the Colombian Air Force and the Growler Squadron of the Navy of United States had to fulfill the objective of reducing the enemy's air defense systems, as well as escorting other aircraft that during the flight, would attack on the enemy, as planned.
When a squad of airplanes required the fuel to extend their range of operation and autonomy during the flight, they met in the chosen area so that the KC767 "Jupiter" of the Colombian Air Force, give 700 gallons of fuel to each of the Kfir airplanes. Later, for the first time, it distributed 1045 gallons of fuel to the Growlers squadron, comprised of three EA18 Super Hornets of the US Navy, which met the Colombian tanker at 22,000 feet (6.7 kilometers height), they requested authorization for a meeting in flight and then they received the fuel of the Colombian aircraft.
Complying the ordered mission, the aircraft of both nations successfully completed their goal thanks to the "Jupiter", which consolidates the role of the Colombian Air Force to meet all NATO standards for this type of flights, involving aircrafts from several countries which have been preparing to obtain ever more demanding goals, thanks to the experience, training and logistics equipment of the Transport Squadron 811 of the Military Transport Air Command CATAM.
In the past, the "Jupiter" had already carried out refueling missions with combat aircraft from Canada and Brazil, today's mission is a milestone because it is an air operation combined with an important ally, obtaining excellent results for Colombia and the U.S.
Source: Strategic Communications # RedFlag2018 - Colombian Air Force.
