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McGuire KC-10s keep Red Flag-Alaska aircraft fueled to fight

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Jonathan Snyder
  • 354th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  A fleet of KC-10 Extenders and their aircrews are deployed here to keep jets in the fight as they participate in a 10-day air combat training exercise over Alaska.

The KC-10 Airmen and aircrews at Eielson Air Force Base for Red Flag-Alaska 09-2 are from McGuire AFB, N.J., and Travis AFB, Calif.

"We have highly experienced aircrews ready to support Red Flag-Alaska 09-2" said Maj. Daniel Mollis, the Tanker Task Force Detachment commander. "A high deployment tempo ensures 60 to 90 combat sorties annually for the KC-10 crew force each with an average duration of eight hours."

Red Flag-Alaska provides joint offensive counter-air, interdiction, close-air support and large force employment training in a simulated combat environment. The Tanker Task Force crews refuel aircraft ranging from blue forces' F-16 Fighting Falcons and French Dassault M2000 Mirage to red forces' F-16 aggressors using either a drogue or regular boom connection.

"We already work with coalition forces in theater and this gives us another opportunity to work with them in a training environment," Major Mollis said.

In an exercise that enables aviation units to sharpen their combat skills by flying 10 simulated combat sorties in a realistic threat environment, the ability to receive fuel off-ground maximizes time in the air, allowing jets to continue flying where they can execute tactical maneuvers in a blue force versus red force training event.

Basic procedures involved with aerial refueling starts with the fighter jet standing by on what's called the rejoin area. The fighter jet then moves behind the boom, which is called the astern position, while his wingman waits at the rejoin area. The fighter jet then moves slightly forward until the boom operator states he is in proper position. The boom operator then swings the boom around the fighter jet canopy and makes contact with the fighter jet.

"Everyone and everything that participates in Red Flag has their place in the overall mission," Major Mollis said. "And I have full confidence in the capabilities of our team and that of the KC-10 to accomplish their portion of it."

After the boom operator is finished refueling, the fighter jet pilot disconnects and moves to what is called the reform area and waits until his wingman is also refueled. Once both fighter jets have been refueled they head back to the fight using the 67,000 square miles of the Joint Pacific Alaskan Range -- one of the many things that makes Alaska the ideal location for Red Flag-Alaska.

"What we do here at Red Flag-Alaska is similar to what we already do downrange" said Senior Airman Pavel Del Monte, a boom operator with the 6th Air Refueling Squadron from Travis AFB. "This exercise provides a great opportunity to stay qualified and proficient until my next deployment, so even we benefit from the training Red Flag-Alaska has to offer."