March 2014

Air-to-Air Refuelling Consolidation

An Update

Joint Air Power

Competence Centre
JAPCC | Air-to-Air Refuelling Consolidation – An Update | March 2014 1
 Cover picture © R. Nicolas-Nelson, Sirpa-Air

© This work is copyrighted. No part may be reproduced by any process without prior written permission. Inquiries should be made to: The Editor,
Joint Air Power Competence Centre (JAPCC), contact@japcc.org

Disclaimer
The views expressed in this work are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the JAPCC. It does not
represent the opinions or policies of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and is designed to provide an independent overview, analysis
and food for thought regarding possible ways ahead on this subject.

Release
This document is approved for public release. Portions of the document may be quoted or reproduced without permission, provided a standard
source credit is included.

Note: The full analysis of NATO AAR contains information, statistics and calculations that are classified. Classified information applies to Chapter III
only and is not in this version. The comprehensive classified version is available on the NATO Secret Network (NSWAN) at http://nww.japcc.nato.int/
JAPCC/JAPCCPubli/otherPubli.

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2 JAPCC | Air-to-Air Refuelling Consolidation – An Update | March 2014

FROM:
The Executive Director of the Joint Air Power Competence Centre (JAPCC)

SUBJECT:
Air-to-Air Refuelling Consolidation – An Update

DISTRIBUTION:

JOINT AIR POWER COMPETENCE CENTRE

All NATO Military and Civilian Structures, NATO Nations and Partnership Cooperation
Menu (PCM) Nations – Releasable to the Public

Time and tide wait for no man, and so the JAPCC has been driven by both time and
events to update the Air-to-Air Refuelling (AAR) Flight Plan, first published by the JAPCC

von-Seydlitz-Kaserne I Römerstraße 140 I 47546 Kalkar I Germany/Allemagne I Tel +49 (0) 2824 90 2201 I Fax +49 (0) 2824 90 2208 I www.japcc.org
in February 2011. This updated AAR Consolidation builds upon the JAPCC’s initial
assessment of NATO’s AAR capabilities with additional analysis of recent AAR operations
over North Africa and the introduction into service of a new generation of Tanker
Transport (TT) platforms.

There can be no doubt as to the current value of AAR and its role in the employment of
Air Power; however there remains a significant shortfall in this capability amongst European
air forces. Only time will tell whether a new generation of fewer, but more capable, tankers
can meet the level of ambition. With declining military resources, the Alliance is firmly focused
on improving levels of interoperability in accordance with Smart Defence and the Connected

NCN: +234 or 239 2201 I E-Mail: contact@japcc.org

Joint Air Power Competence Centre I centre de compétence de la puissance aérienne interarmées
Forces Initiative, as is the European Union with their concept of Pooling and Sharing.

The anticipated end of combat operations in Afghanistan in 2014 will inevitably focus
military and political thinking upon future force structures, with air forces being no excep-
tion. Rather than focusing on force structures, Air Power advocates should aim to articulate
an effective framework for developing its capabilities, sustainment, training and exercise to
support the concepts of force efficiency and force effectiveness

Joachim Wundrak
Lieutenant General, DEU AF
Executive Director, JAPCC

JAPCC | Air-to-Air Refuelling Consolidation – An Update | March 2014 i

 TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER I
Introduction
1.1 Challenges to Future Success...................................................................................................................................................1
1.2 The Path Ahead.................................................................................................................................................................................2

CHAPTER II
AAR in 2015
2.1 The Objective of AAR.....................................................................................................................................................................3
2.2 AAR Resources...................................................................................................................................................................................4
2.3 Tanker Characteristics....................................................................................................................................................................4
2.4 AAR Employment Concept........................................................................................................................................................5
2.5 Basing......................................................................................................................................................................................................5
2.6 Employment Efficiencies.............................................................................................................................................................5
2.7 The Rise of the Machines............................................................................................................................................................6

CHAPTER III
Areas of Concern
3.1 NATO Tanker Requirement.........................................................................................................................................................7
3.2 The NATO Inventory.......................................................................................................................................................................8
3.3 Organization.....................................................................................................................................................................................11
3.4 Multinational Initiatives.............................................................................................................................................................11
3.5 The AAR Clearance Process.....................................................................................................................................................12
3.6 Fail to Plan, Plan to Fail...............................................................................................................................................................13
3.7 Training ...............................................................................................................................................................................................14

ii JAPCC | Air-to-Air Refuelling Consolidation – An Update | March 2014

 CHAPTER IV
Proposed Solutions
4.1 Addressing the European Shortfall....................................................................................................................................16
4.2 One Size Fits All?............................................................................................................................................................................18

CHAPTER V
Recommended Reading
5.1 Strategic Level Doctrine............................................................................................................................................................20
5.2 Operational Level Doctrine.....................................................................................................................................................20
5.3 Tactical Level Procedures.........................................................................................................................................................21

CHAPTER VI
Recommendations/Conclusions
6.1 List of Recommendations........................................................................................................................................................22
6.2 Conclusions......................................................................................................................................................................................22

ANNEX A
Acronyms and Abbreviations.......................................................................................................................................................23

JAPCC | Air-to-Air Refuelling Consolidation – An Update | March 2014 iii

 © Airbus Military
CHAPTER I AAR capability has been proven to be effective in
­support of air operations over the former Yugoslavia,
Introduction Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya and, most recently, Mali.
Whether close to home or at extended range in
‘Of all air power force-multipliers, Air-to-Air Refu- ­support of expeditionary operations, there has been
elling (AAR) is amongst the most significant. It an increase in demand for AAR from a greater number
provides an essential capability that increases the of receivers. To the Cold War requirement to support
range, endurance, payload and flexibility of all strategic reach (Air Transport (AT), long-range strike)
capable receiver aircraft, and is especially impor- has been added the requirement to refuel Fighter/­
tant when forward basing is limited or unavail- Attack, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance
able, or air base operations limitations impose (ISR), airborne Command and Control (C2) and M
­ aritime
constraints.’1 Patrol assets.

1.1 Challenges to Future Success

1.1.2 With respect to ‘ownership’, there is no single
1.1.1 There is little doubt as to the requirement office or focal point within the current NATO Com-
amongst air forces for AAR capability. AAR capability is mand Structure to coordinate multinational AAR
already, for more than half a decade, been identified issues. The drafting of doctrine, equipment standar­
as a capability shortfall in NATO, specifically amongst dization agreements, tactical procedures, common
the European NATO members. Yet, time and again, the qualification and currencies, and the training of

JAPCC | Air-to-Air Refuelling Consolidation – An Update | March 2014 1

 ­ lanning staffs is being undertaken by a large num-
p come their reluctance to share the technical data re-
ber of national and multinational organizations, quired to facilitate AAR clearances.
agencies and individuals. This lack of central co­
ordination has led to AAR lessons being repeatedly 1.1.4 Given the continued fiscal constraints and pro-
‘re-learned’ during the initial phases of air operations curement of fewer platforms, it is likely that, if these
(e.g. analysis of the Balkan air campaigns is broadly three areas are not invested in, AAR may become a
similar to that of the Libyan campaign). limiting factor to NATO’s future ambition rather than
its current status as a significant force-multiplier.
1.1.3 With potentially fewer AAR resources, NATO also
faces an increasing demand for greater efficiency, 1.2 The Path Ahead
largely driven by economics. Defence expenditure,
amongst NATO countries is declining, and whilst new 1.2.1 The aim of this publication is three fold: to educate
tanker platforms are more capable, they are being the reader in the current status of NATO’s AAR capability;
procured in fewer numbers so the overall capability to explain, in detail, the areas of concern; and to inform
may be reduced. Increasing the level of interoper­ the reader of solutions to address these concerns.
ability between existing resources is seen as a ­potential
1. NATO, Allied Tactical Publication (ATP) 3.3.4 Vol II AAR Doctrine (Brussels: NATO Standardization
solution however, nations and industry must over- Agency, 2013).

2 JAPCC | Air-to-Air Refuelling Consolidation – An Update | March 2014

© 2012 Eurofighter Typhoon

CHAPTER II 2.1.2 Knowing when and where this extension is to

be employed are important factors in the successful

AAR in 2015 employment of AAR capability. Considerations in-

clude; offloading the requested amount of fuel,
‘The objective of AAR operations is to enhance ­rendezvousing at the coordinated point in airspace at
combat effectiveness by extending the range, the correct time and trailing the receiving assets dur-
payload and endurance of receiver aircraft. It ing the deployment and redeployment phases. AAR
allows Air Power to be projected at greater capability is therefore expressed in terms of the num-
distances or concentrated where and when it is ber of tanker sorties generated, the time on ­station,
needed most.’1 the amount of fuel offloaded, the number of booms
or hoses in the air, and the number of receivers sup-
2.1 The Objective of AAR ported. However, as an enabling capability, the overall
2.1.1 The primary effect of providing additional fuel efficiency of AAR is derived from the ratio ­between
to airborne aircraft is a spatial and temporal extension the aforementioned considerations and the mission
of air capabilities. The increase in the range, endur- results achieved by the receiving aircraft.
ance, payload and flexibility of receiver aircraft still
outweighs the additional costs associated with de­ 2.1.3 The new generation of tankers utilize existing
livering fuel in the air, confirming AAR as a significant AAR technology so it is reasonable to assume that
force enabler and multiplier. To ensure these effects extension will remain the primary AAR effect for the
are optimized, it is important that AAR does not inter- foreseeable future. None of the NATO nations has
fere with, or adversely impact upon, the receiving air- ­indicated their use of an alternative AAR system; the
crafts’ primary mission. next development is likely to be the variance in

JAPCC | Air-to-Air Refuelling Consolidation – An Update | March 2014 3

 r­ eceiver aircraft. Tilt-Rotor platforms have been add- KC-135 replacement, will be classed as medium-
ed to fixed and Rotary Wing (RW) receivers with to-large tankers with maximum weights between
­unmanned receivers most likely to be next progres- 350,000 and 500,000 pounds.
sion. Research and development using unmanned
receivers have, to date, used manned receiver flight 2.3.1.2 The market in medium-to-large tankers (in
profiles and procedures reinforcing the assumption terms of size, payload, range and speed) is currently
that force extension will continue to be the preferred dominated by two companies: Airbus Defence and
method of employment. Space and the Boeing Company. Airbus manufac-
tures the A310 and A330 Multi-Role Tanker Trans-
port (MRTT) aircraft with Boeing offering variants of
2.2 AAR Resources
the B767 as the Multi-Mission Tanker Transport
The legacy of the Cold War procurement of AAR tankers (MMTT). The small and medium tanker market is
still bears its mark on the inventories of the NATO currently dominated by the Lockheed C-130 with
­nations’ tanker inventories. Twenty years since the fall of future additions to the market expected in the form
the Soviet Union many nations are only now undertak- of the Airbus A400M (at 285,000 pounds), the V-22
ing the process of procuring new platforms or the re- Osprey and the Embraer C295.
capitalization of existing fleets. Whilst the requirement
for AAR has increased, from fighters and bombers to 2.3.2 Fuel Transfer Technology
the full spectrum of air platforms, there has not been a
corresponding purchase of additional tanker aircraft. NATO has ratified the standardization of the two ex-
isting, and different, fuel transfer systems: the probe
and drogue and boom systems. The two systems are
2.3 Tanker Characteristics
not compatible however the use of a Boom Drogue
2.3.1 Aircraft Types Adaptor (BDA) fitted on the ground preflight and the
purchase of dual system tankers (fitted with both
2.3.1.1 The current standard tanker for NATO plan- probe and drogue and boom equipment) ­addresses
ning is the KC-135 which, at a maximum gross weight the needs of current receivers. To date, no NATO air
of 300,000 pounds, can be termed as a medium-sized force has identified the requirement for a ­different
tanker. The majority of new platforms, including the AAR system.

Cargo compartment of an Italian KC-767 tanker transport. © ITAF Col Pil Gustavo Cicconardi

4 JAPCC | Air-to-Air Refuelling Consolidation – An Update | March 2014

2.3.3 Dual-system Tankers/Tanker Transports AAR procedures address this complexity. To address
the vulnerability, tasking authorities minimize expo-
2.3.3.1 NATO does not own any AAR tankers and is sure to enemy threats by planning to conduct AAR
reliant upon the Member States to provide this capa- in relatively-­benign environments once a high de-
bility. With no common procurement strategy, these gree of air super­iority has been achieved. AAR may
nations have, in the past, acquired AAR tankers in however be conducted in less benign areas when
­accordance with their own national, not multinational, required and the addition of defensive aids to future
policy. A nation with probe-equipped receiver aircraft platforms (specifically the KC-46) may indicate the
have previously bought drogue-equipped tankers; need or will to do so.
­nations with boom receivers have acquired boom-
equipped tankers. The requirement for both AAR fuel
2.5 Basing
transfer systems on the same aircraft has been stimu-
lated by the increasing pressure for greater levels of 2.5.1 The majority of current tankers are not fitted
interoperability amongst NATO allies faced with pur- with threat warning or defensive aids and as such
chasing fewer (in overall numbers) of the new genera- they are not normally based in close proximity to
tion of TT aircraft. the immediate battle space. But given the hybrid
­symmetric/asymmetric nature of recent operations,
2.3.3.2 The TT platforms could be called upon to per- the basing of tankers also deserves some thought.
form missions other than AT and AAR. Aeromedical
Evacuation (AE) has been undertaken by national AAR 2.5.2 Current NATO planning, based on likely sce­
assets in the AT role and their future use for ISR and C2 narios and operational concepts, has identified for-
should not be discounted. ward ­basing options, albeit within NATO territory, for
tanker bed-down locations. The planning process en-
2.3.3.3 Commanders and planners must be cog­ compasses analysis and verification with host nations
nizant of the advantages and constraints of each to ensure adequate provision of infrastructure, access
dual-role aircraft and type and its aircrews. Whilst and supplies. In order to realise economies of scale,
flexi­bility should prove a clear advantage, the cor- maximize logistics efficiency and to minimize the
rect apportionment and task prioritization is vital to Force Protection footprint, a smaller number of
the efficient employment of these tankers, whether airbases with larger capacities is preferred to more nu-
in its primary AAR role or secondary AT/other role. merous, smaller airbases. Although the new genera-
Equally, the allocation of aircrews, to each or all tion of NATO tankers (A330, KC-46) is not significantly
roles, could prove problematic with the correct larger in physical dimensions than the current fleet
­balance between the training costs and the r­ equired (KC-10, KC-135), tanker bed-down spots will have to
force readiness levels. be reviewed, perhaps using the KC-46 as the standard
size. The new generation is however significantly
more capable in terms of fuel uplift so fuel supply
2.4 AAR Employment Concept
­estimates will require closer examination.
As previously stated, AAR provides an essential cap­
ability that increases the range, endurance, payload
2.6 Employment Efficiencies
and flexibility of all capable receiver aircraft. This
includes support to tactical and strategic operations, 2.6.1 With the potential of fewer, but more capable,
expeditionary operations, inter-theatre fighter tankers supporting an increasing community of re-
move­ments and air transport operations. The ‘art’ of ceivers, efficiencies in the employment of receiver-
AAR encompasses both complexity and vulner­ capable tankers will be sought. The two predomi-
ability. The inherent dangers of aircraft flying in close nant methods to extend the performance of tankers
formation and refuelling are self-evident; common are force extension and fuel consolidation. The two

JAPCC | Air-to-Air Refuelling Consolidation – An Update | March 2014 5

 methods are similar with the delineation between tasking by planning staffs either whilst the tankers are
the purpose of force extension as an organic sup- airborne or for the following Air Tasking cycle.
porter to planned deployments of specific flying
units and fuel consolidation in support of the
2.7 The Rise of the Machines
­broader AAR mission.
All current NATO AAR tanker procurement pro-
2.6.1.1 Force extension has been employed to refuel grammes are manned platforms. There are estab-
tankers when supporting the long-range deployments lished programmes for unmanned AAR receivers
of receiver aircraft formations. The dedicated supporting however standardization across the Alliance is in its
tankers are refuelled whilst airborne thus eliminating/ infancy. A 5-nation Memorandum of Understanding
reducing the requirement for en route fuel stops. (MoU) Technical Group (TG), the Future Technologies
Aerial Refueling (FTAR) TG, is mandated to provide the
2.6.1.2 Fuel consolidation involves tanker-tanker AAR to constituent members (France, Germany, Italy, the UK
enable the most efficient combination of tankers by tak- and the US) with the sharing of current research and
ing advantage of any spare airborne fuel capacity and to technological data. In the future, the TG aims to pro-
avoid tankers returning to base with unused fuel. This vide standardization guidance to industry and in-
process enables the release of tankers to return to base teroperability guidance to the military for the auto-
without reducing the amount of available fuel in the op- mated AAR of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS).
erating area. The returning tanker can then be turned
around, with a different crew, for a different mission. This
1. NATO, Allied Joint Publication (AJP)-3.3(A): Allied Joint Doctrine for Air and Space Operations
consolidation enables more dynamic scheduling or re- (Brussels: NATO Standardization Agency, 2009)

Two US National Aeronautical and Space Administration (NASA) Global Hawks preforming AAR.
Note: the lead UAS is actually the receiver.

6 JAPCC | Air-to-Air Refuelling Consolidation – An Update | March 2014

© NASA
 © R. Nicolas-Nelson, Sirpa-Air

CHAPTER III the classified ­version of this publication. This planning

figure is based upon the performance and capability
of the KC-135, the standard metric, with factors ap-
Areas of Concern plied to other allied tankers.

NOTE: For a more detailed analysis on the NATO 3.1.2 On paper, NATO has sufficient numbers of
­tanker requirement, please see the classified version ­tankers to meet its Level of Ambition, yet, this is only
of this document available on the NATO SECRET possible through heavy reliance on US assets. There
(NSWAN) webpage at the following address: has been much debate in open sources about
http://nww.japcc.nato.int/JAPCC/JAPCCPubli/otherPubli ­whether NATO’s tanker resources truly meet NATO’s
requirement. A discussion of AAR in relation to current
and previous Priority Shortfall Areas is available in the
3.1 NATO Tanker Requirement
classified version of this document.
3.1.1 The NATO AAR requirement is derived from the
NATO Defence Planning Process (NDPP) and is the 3.1.3 The required total, derived from the NDPP, is
AAR capability needed to meet NATO’s Level of Ambi- ­inaccurate for a number of reasons. The number does
tion – to undertake, concurrently, two Major Joint not account for:
­Operations (MJO) and six (one air-heavy) Small Joint
Operations (SJO). The criterion for the air component • The double counting of TT aircraft to concurrently
contribution for each scale of operation is detailed in fulfill both AT and AAR requirements;

JAPCC | Air-to-Air Refuelling Consolidation – An Update | March 2014 7

 • The differentiation between boom-capable tankers, 3.2 The NATO Inventory
probe and drogue-capable tankers and Dual-system
tankers, but assumes absolute interoperability Analysis of the current NATO AAR inventory ­( Table 2)
­between all variants of tankers and all receivers; highlights the following areas of concern:

•
The correlation between platform capability and • The ratio between the capability of the United States
mission profile. There are certain mission profiles un- and the remainder is vast: 9:1 of the overall capability
suited to strategic tankers (in terms of size, payload, (subtly different from the requirement);
range and speed) e.g. RW AAR. Vice-versa, there are
certain missions that tactical tankers are unsuited to • 17 of 28 (or 61%) NATO nations have a receiver re-
e.g. heavy aircraft boom AAR; quirement however only 9 (or 32% of ) nations have
a tanker capability;
• The link to force generation i.e. the willingness of a
specific nation to deploy their forces to a specific • The current European inventory suggests these na-
­operation in the quantity agreed to, and stated, with- tions are only capable of undertaking a single air-heavy
in the NDPP. Small Joint Operation, in the best scenario. ­Indeed,
only seven European Member States c­ urrently operate
3.1.4 NATO has not changed its level of ambition and, tanker aircraft and only a portion of these aircraft are
given the recent declaration that the US can no lon- ‘deployable’ on a given day (detail provided in the com-
ger plan to undertake concurrent large-scale wars prehensive classified version). To compound this lack of
and its shift in military focus to the Asia-Pacific region, capability, there are twelve different types of tankers in
NATO must revise the quantitative AAR requirement the European inventory, for which, more than 40% of
within the NDPP. The current figure is far too low and the required clearances are missing. All the other Mem-
reliant upon the US providing the vast majority of the ber States rely heavily on US spare AAR capacity;
capability.
• The combination of fragmentation (the numbers of air-
NOTE: See the classified version for detailed analysis craft variants, both tankers and receivers) and the two
of the NATO AAR requirement and capability. (Table 1 principle AAR systems (boom receptacle, probe and
is classified and not in this version.) drogue) hampers standardization and thus interoper-

USAF KC-135R refuelling two USAF F-16s.

© U.S. Air Force, SSgt Suzanne Day

8 JAPCC | Air-to-Air Refuelling Consolidation – An Update | March 2014

 Nation AAR 2014 Tanker Inventory 20141 2020-2025
Receivers Tanker Inventory

ALBANIA NO

BELGIUM YES Purchase flt hours through EDA

Pillar 42

BULGARIA NO

CANADA YES 4 CC-130HT (Drogue)3 2 CC-150T (A-310 MRTT) (Drogue)

2 CC-150T (A-310 MRTT) (Drogue)

CROATIA NO

CZECH REPUBLIC YES

DENMARK YES

ESTONIA NO

FRANCE YES 7 C-160NG (14 aircraft capable but 10 A400M (U/W pods + 5 HDU)4
only 7 kits) (Drogue) 12 A-330MRTT (Drogue and Boom?)
11 C-135FR (Boom and Drogue)
3 KC-135R (Boom and BDA)

GERMANY YES 4 A-310MRTT (Drogue) 4 A-310MRTT (Drogue)

10 A400M (10 U/W pods + 6 HDU)

GREECE YES

HUNGARY YES

ITALY YES 4 KC-767 (Boom and Drogue) 4 KC-767 (Boom and Drogue)
9 KC-130J (Drogue) 9 KC-130J (Drogue)

LATVIA NO

LITHUANIA NO

LUXEMBOURG NO

NETHERLANDS YES 2 KDC-10 (Boom) Strategic Tankers under EDA Pillar 42

NORWAY YES Strategic Tankers under EDA Pillar 42

POLAND YES Strategic Tankers under EDA Pillar 42

PORTUGAL YES

Romania NO

JAPCC | Air-to-Air Refuelling Consolidation – An Update | March 2014 9

 Nation AAR 2014 Tanker Inventory 20141 2020-2025
Receivers Tanker Inventory

SLOVAKIA NO

SLOVENIA NO

SPAIN YES 2 B-707 (Drogue) 9 A400M (9 U/W pods + 3 HDU)

5 KC-130 (Drogue) Strategic Tankers under EDA Pillar 42

TURKEY YES 7 KC-135R (Boom and BDA) 7 KC-135R (Boom and BDA)

UNITED YES 4 TriStar K1/KC1 (Retire in 2014) 14 Voyager KC2 (A-330 MRTT) (Drogue)
KINGDOM 7 Voyager KC2 (A-330 MRTT) (Drogue)

UNITED STATES YES 397 KC-135R/T (Boom & Drogue/BDA) 179 KC-46 (Boom and Drogue)5
59 KC-10 (Boom and Dogue) 218 KC-135R/T (Boom & Drogue/BDA)6
48 MC-130E/H/P (Drogue) 59 KC-10 (Boom and Drogue)7
36 HC-130P/N (Drogue) 22 MC-130J (Drogue)
15 MC-130J (Drogue) 20 MC130H (Drogue)
9 HC-130J (Drogue) 36 HC-130J (Drogue)
28 KC-130T (Drogue) 74 KC-130J (Drogue)
46 KC-130J (Drogue)

TOTAL 709 697+318

(including USA)

TOTAL 71 89+31
(without USA)

TOTAL 58 80+31
(without USA/
CAN/TUR)

1. All numbers in current inventories are taken from the national declarations made durung the NATO AAR Working Group in Apr 2013. The only excetions are the C130-tyoe tanker numbers sourced from the US Air Force and US Navy.
2. It is assumed a minimum collective procurement of 8 strategic tankers under Pillar 4 of the European Defence Agency initiative. The exact number has not yet been decided.
3. Forecast Out of Service Date 2020.
4. The total number of underwing kits represent the total number of A400M tankers available. The additional Hose Drogue Units do not represent additional tankers.
5. Delivery of the KC-46 programme will be completed in 2028. For the purpose of this document the 2025 timeframe includes all aircraft deliveries.
6. The estimated number of KC-135 still in service during the period 2020-2025 is based on a one-for-one replacement with KC-46.
7. The USAF is considering retiring its KC-10 fleet in the near future and delaying the retirement of the KC-135R.
8. Under the EDA’s AAR Initiative (Pillar 3) the purchase of an additional 31 U/W kits and 15 HDUs will convert a further 31 A400M aircraft to the tanker role from the existing fleet; but, as of yet, no A400M nation has signed up to this option.

Table 2: NATO Tanker Inventory (Current) and 2025 (Projected)

Note: More detailed information in the classified version.

ability. The acquisition of a new generation of dual- Kingdom has procured new tankers without a boom
system tankers and the reduction in the variants of capability; France has yet to decide on a dual-system
­receivers should alleviate, but not eradicate, this issue; tanker; Germany has retired its last remaining boom
receiver and will revert to probe only; the Nether-
• Within the European nations’ inventory, there is a lands and Turkey have yet to procure replacements
shortage of boom-equipped tankers. The United for their ­existing boom-equipped fleets.

10 JAPCC | Air-to-Air Refuelling Consolidation – An Update | March 2014

3.3 Organization planners within the CAOC (then based at Poggio
Renatico) and there remains no dedicated, multi­
­
3.3.1 Each of the new generation Tanker Transport air- national training for AAR Planners anywhere in NATO.
craft will be more capable than previous platforms, in
terms of available fuel offload and its own perfor- Recommendation 1: A permanent office or advo-
mance (range, endurance, speed, fuel efficiency). cate for AAR capability within AIRCOM is required to
However, the decrease in physical numbers will be ensure coherence between Allied Command Oper­
exacerbated by a significant increase in the demand ations, Allied Command Transformation and the
for AAR. As it is unlikely that there will be a future ­Alliance nations.
­increase in the numbers of tankers available to NATO,
the employment of current assets must be optimized 3.3.2.4 This lack of an AAR focal point within the NCS
which may necessitate fundamental changes to the has led to the proliferation in the number of multi-
controlling/tasking organization(s). national Commands, organizations and agencies
tasked with improving the levels of standardization
3.3.2 The NATO Command Structure (NCS) and interoperability amongst the Alliance nations.

3.3.2.1 At the time of writing there is no single, perma- HQ AIRCOM, Rammstein AB, Germany.
nent office, or focal point, within the NCS to analyse and
staff AAR issues in preparation for operations. During
operations, the Transfer of Authority provides Allied
Command Operations (ACO) with Operational Control
of national assets. Air operations over Afghanistan and
Libya have demonstrated that a NATO-led Air Oper­
ations Centre can C2 the Joint Force Air Component
© OFw Timmig PAO CC-Air HQ Ramstein

(JFAC) in support of the Alliance’s aims. However, this

capability must be placed in context due to the size,
scale and complexity of these particular air operations.

3.3.2.2 Reform of NATO Air Command’s (AIRCOM)

command structure resulted in a single Allied Air
Command Headquarters at Ramstein, Germany, with
the additional role to act as the JFAC. The NATO Com-
bined Air Operations Centres (CAOC) (Uedem, Ger-
many; Torrejon, Spain) are tasked with the Air Policing
of, respectively, Northern and Southern European air- 3.4 Multinational Initiatives
space. Personnel from these two CAOCs will augment
the deployable JFAC during operations but whether a 3.4.1 The Movement Coordination Centre – Europe
single Allied Air Command can meet the C2 challenge (MCCE) was established in July 2007 as a result of the
for 2 x MJO plus 6 x SJO is open to debate. merging of the European Airlift Centre (EAC) and
the Sealift Coordination Cell (SCC). The aim was to
3.3.2.3 What is certain is the lack of AAR expertise with- improve the effectiveness and efficiency, through
in the NCS. The Air Policing of NATO airspace requires ­greater coordination, of the 25 member nations’ capa-
very few (if any) permanently-assigned AAR assets thus bilities in the fields of Movement and Transportation
the CAOCs in Uedem and Torrejon do not teach or including AT, AAR, Sealift Transport (ST) and Inland
practice large-scale AAR planning. The NATO-led air Surface Transport (IST). An AAR Cell and an Airspace
­operation over Libya exposed the lack of qualified AAR Management Office were established within the

JAPCC | Air-to-Air Refuelling Consolidation – An Update | March 2014 11

 MCCE Operations Section, with its main task of han- 3.4.4 Furthermore, these multinational organizations
dling and developing AAR and Airspace cooperation are undermined by the sensitive political issue of na-
amongst participant Nations. The MCCE encourages tional sovereignty. This is most evident during combat
the exchanging of air services through the compensa- operations. The all-too-frequent use of national
tion mechanism defined in the Air Transport, Air-to- caveats and restrictions diminishes the collective
­
Air Refuelling and other Exchange of Services (­ ATARES) will and negates the potential efficiencies shown
to which the US has recently joined. The admission of through peacetime cooperation.
the US to ATARES will potentially see the transition
from the current situation whereby United States Air 3.4.5 At the working level, NATO’s regulation of doc-
Forces Europe (USAFE) assets are the pre-eminent trinal and technical standards is coordinated by the
supporter of Europe’s demand for AAR to a position Air-to-Air Refuelling Working Group (AARWG) chaired
where USAFE is both a provider for, and a receiver of, by the JAPCC. The JAPCC is a NATO-accredited Centre
European AAR services. of Excellence however, significantly, does not sit
within the NATO Command Structure. The AARWG is a
3.4.2 The European Air Transport Command (EATC) subordinate group to the Military Committee Air Stan-
was established in September 2010 with the aim to dardization Board (MCASB) and primarily focuses on
make more efficient use of AT and AAR capabilities. the development of operational standards and the
The Participating Nations transferred and integrated exchange of information that enhances effective AAR
all relevant national responsibilities (in reality only employment and interoperability. The principal activ-
­Operational Control (OPCON)) into one single Com- ity of the Working Group is the identification, proposal
mand in order to direct the force generation and the and development of Standardization Agreements
mission execution of the combined AT. The Command (STANAGs) and Allied Publications (APs) that embrace
also encourages the harmonization and standardi­ doctrine, tactics, techniques and procedures in the
zation in training and employment matters in addi- field of AAR, which are essential for current and future
tion to technical and logistical support. Current partici­ NATO operations.
pating nations include Belgium, France, Germany,
Luxembourg and the Netherlands with the imminent 3.4.6 The development of technical STANAGs is cen-
addition of Spain. The addition of Italy to the EATC is tral to the work of the Aerial Refueling Systems Advi-
currently ­being staffed. sory Group (ARSAG). Although ARSAG is a US-based
organization, the Group is dedicated to improving
3.4.3 In order to realize the benefits of increased effi- all aspects of Aerial Refuelling worldwide. The not-
ciency, these multinational organizations must have for-profit joint military-industry professional associa-
sufficient resources and a form of command a­ uthority. tion was chartered in 1978 and is recognized as the
The MCCE, as a coordination centre, does not have global workplace for technical and operational Aerial
a command function. Any efficiency is therefore de- Refueling topics. ARSAG’s scope brings together the
pendent upon the willingness of nations to make as- NATO air forces, allies and industry to promote the
sets available rather than utilising the full inventories safety of, and interoperability between, AAR equip-
of all participating nations. The EATC has OPCON of ment and systems.
some but not all AAR assets and is demonstrating,
year-on-year, greater efficiency and resultant effec-
3.5 The AAR Clearance Process
tiveness, albeit primarily in the AT domain. The effi-
ciencies in AAR have yet to materialize due to the 3.5.1 Interoperability, especially between nations op-
small number of tankers assigned to the EATC; the erating the same platforms, will be improved by
largest contributor would be France however most of ­accelerating the AAR Clearance Process. The clearance
their tankers are withheld in support of their national to conduct AAR involves not just the technical com-
­nuclear task. patibility between the receiver and tanker aircraft but

12 JAPCC | Air-to-Air Refuelling Consolidation – An Update | March 2014

also financial and legal issues and the standardization same ­receiver aircraft and tankers, a system of techni-
in employment, specifically in training, qualification cally clearing receiver/tanker combinations en masse
and currency. The final overall clearance, including the should be pursued rather than nations acting inde-
technical clearance, will always be retained by the pendently. As a minimum, technical data should be
­national Operating Authority, usually the particular shared between those operating nations. However, it
national command, as the ‘owners’ of both the clear- is not always possible to share this technical data as
ance and the risk. The process of authorizing AAR the proprietary owner of this data, either the air force
Clearances is lengthy and expensive involving both or industry, is not always certain. The ‘need to share’ is
ground and air tests, evaluation and risk manage- perhaps lacking in the military psyche accustomed to
ment. To complicate matters further, there is no the ‘need to know.’
agreed international standard for the Clearance Pro-
cess and thus nations maintain their own procedures, Recommendation 2: Ministers of Defence (MoD)/
applied by their respective Flight Test Centres and Air- Air Chiefs should impress upon their Airworthi-
worthiness Authorities, many of which are not neces- ness/Release-to-Service staffs the importance of
sarily controlled or commanded by the specific na- the ‘need to share’ technical data with respect to
tional air force but by a Joint or central civilian agency. AAR clearances.

3.5.2 Much of the lethargy in the AAR Clearance pro-

3.6 Fail to Plan, Plan to Fail
cess can be attributed to ignorance of multi-lateral
requirements or bureaucratic national procedures. 3.6.1 NATO not only has an over-reliance on US tank-
However, a significant factor is the lack of sharing of ers but also an over-reliance on the provision of US
technical information between nations with techni- Joint Force Air Component Commanders, functional
cally similar variants of either tankers or receivers. Air Operations Centres (AOC) and AOC personnel,
With several countries operating the (technically) specifically AAR planners. The Lesson Identified by HQ

US Combined Air Operations Centre.

© U.S Air Force, Lt. Col Reid Christopherson

JAPCC | Air-to-Air Refuelling Consolidation – An Update | March 2014 13

© Airbus S.A.S 2011

Airbus A330 flight simulator.

AIRCOM from OUP that the NATO JFAC lacked exper- Recommendation 4: NATO should introduce a com-
tise in a number of key areas has not been adequately mon training programme for AAR Planning staff as
addressed. NATO’s declaration for declaring Initial pre-employment in a NATO CAOC.
­Operating Capability and Full Operating Capability for
the restructured NATO Command Structure ignored
3.7 Training
the Lesson Identified that the AOCs should be
manned with qualified and trained personnel and not The challenges associated with sustaining a c­ apability
just any personnel. through training are not unique to AAR. The resources
expended by NATO countries during a decade plus of
Recommendation 3: Commander, AIRCOM should expeditionary operations in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya
ensure JFAC staffs are fully trained (qualified and and Mali has impacted the resources available for
current) for their assigned task and conversant with individual and collective training.
the organizational and command structures.
3.7.1 Individual Training
3.6.2 NATO does not have a dedicated AAR Planners
course and is reliant upon US-trained personnel to The individual training of AAR receiver aircrew and air
lead the AAR sections of NATO CAOCs and JFAC. In the refuelling system operators remains the responsibility
reorganization of the NATO Command Structure, the of the nations. Indeed the national representatives to
NATO CAOC at Poggio Renatico has been re-tasked as the NATO AAR Working Group specifically requested
a Deployable Air Command and Control Centre with (in 2013) that nations retain a degree of discretion re-
the potential to be used to train NATO CAOC person- garding training requirements vice a common stan-
nel. However, currently, only the USAF teaches AAR dard. However, in the multinational context, there has
planning to air mobility personnel assigned to AOCs. to be an assurance, a level of confidence, between
tanker and receiver that the receiver pilot and/or
3.6.3 The USAF Air Mobility Command detachment at boom operator is AAR qualified and current to con-
Hurlburt Field, Florida, teaches all aspects of a func- duct safe operations.
tioning (US-centric) AOC, including AAR planning and
integration into the Air Tasking Order (ATO) cycle. The 3.7.2 Common Qualification and Currencies
AAR course is available to UK and Canadian personnel
assigned to a NATO CAOC post through the Foreign 3.7.2.1 Within the NATO AAR capability there are no
Military Sales mechanism. common qualification and currency standards for

14 JAPCC | Air-to-Air Refuelling Consolidation – An Update | March 2014

AAR receiver pilots and boom operators. Each indi- represent the operational demand, even if the train-
vidual nation determines its own respective stand­ ing aircraft do not require any additional fuel to com-
ards. This complicates both the risk assessment for plete the training mission. Again, the participation of
commanders and also the task of the planners to multinational force elements can only improve levels
­assign qualified receivers to tanker aircraft. of standardization and interoperability.

3.7.2.2 The adoption of a multinational and/or NATO 3.7.4 Synthetic Training

standard would enhance interoperability, alleviate the
planning task and, potentially, increase flexibility in 3.7.4.1 With increasing financial and environmental
the tasking. pressures being placed on live-fly training, a comple-
mentary synthetic training environment is increas-
3.7.2.3 The NATO AAR Working Group is to propose ingly seen as essential to maintaining core capabili-
the adoption of a Common Qualification and Curren- ties. There is, of course, the fear that live training will
cies Standards-Related Document to align the respec- eventually be replaced by synthetic training without
tive national standards, and for inclusion in ATP-3.3.4.2 first determining the minimum safe level of live activ-
AAR Procedures. Compliance with this multinational ity, below which the risks associated with operational
standard whilst on NATO operations would mitigate flying are increased.
the risks inherent in coalition operations. Nations would
retain the right to determine more/less stringent stand­ 3.7.4.2 In the new generation of boom-equipped
ards when operating, un­liaterally or bi-laterally, outside tankers, the boom operator physically controls the
of NATO command or control. boom from a remote station via a synthetic link. He/
she no longer has actual eyes-on the receiver aircraft.
Recommendation 5: NATO should adopt common The case for synthetic training for boom operators is
minimum qualification and currency standards in therefore very strong if not absolute.
order to mitigate risk during multinational AAR
operations. 3.7.4.3 With respect to receiver pilot AAR training, the
argument for increased synthetic training is more
3.7.3 Collective Training complex. Modern simulators have yet to meet the re-
quired modelling and responsiveness requirements
In the current economic climate it is u ­ nrealistic to to simulate ‘live’ AAR. Furthermore, the level of live
­argue for an AAR-centric exercise. There is an argu- training below which flight safety could be compro-
ment to place greater emphasis on AAR in the current mised has yet to be determined. Until such time as
Joint collective training environment given its status this safe level is determined, synthetic training has to
as a critical enabler and the increasing likelihood of be viewed as complementary to, and not as a replace-
operating with tankers of a different nation. AAR is ment for, live flying activity.
­often classified as an exercise enabler rather than an
integral element to be trained. There is also significant Recommendation 6: NATO Joint Collective Training
environmental pressure restricting the size and loca- should be reviewed to:
tion of live-fly air exercises, many of which now do not
require AAR participation, either platforms or plan- •
Identify training/exercise opportunities to inte-
ning staff. This training artificiality, of restricted geo- grate AAR planning and execution;
graphical distance, does not exist in the operational
domain with the majority of missions requiring AAR • Establish the minimum safe level of live AAR train-
support. Pre- and post-strike or ingress/egress AAR ing required and the potential for the increased
should be planned and practised to more accurately use of complementary synthetic training.

JAPCC | Air-to-Air Refuelling Consolidation – An Update | March 2014 15

 © Crown Copyright
CHAPTER IV designed not to immediately contract nations to in-
dustry but to boost interoperability levels and AAR
clearances between military users and civilian provid-
Proposed Solutions ers. Omega Air has offered a package of AAR compati-
bility tests with their tanker aircraft and an initial trial of
4.1 Addressing the European
their services at a subsidized rate, but no EU nation has
Shortfall yet to sign on to this offer. The arguments against this
4.1.1 There is recognition1 that, collectively, Europe pillar include: civilian AAR providers are predominantly
could, and should, contribute more AAR capability to probe and drogue tankers and the majority of nations
alleviate the Alliance’s dependency on the US. Eu- with probe and drogue capability have made provi-
rope’s AAR initiative is led by the European D ­ efence sion for any shortfall; and the operating costs of com-
Agency (EDA) whose wider mission is to support the mercial providers is undercut by the cost and availabil-
European Council and the Member States in their ef- ity of US tankers or a third party through the ATARES
fort to improve the European Union’s defence capa- agreement. Due to the lack of commitment from the
bilities in support of the Common Security and nations, the EDA has put this pillar in a dormant status.
­Defence Policy (CSDP). The EDA AAR initiative is struc-
tured in 4 pillars (see Fig. 1): Short term Gap Filling 4.1.3 Pillar 2 – Optimization of Existing Assets and
(with potential commercial opportunities); Optimiza- ­Organizations – has four sub-pillars each of which are
tion of Existing Assets and Organizations; the pooled making differing progress.
procurement and ­sharing of A400M AAR Kits; and the
recapitalization of strategic tanker fleets through 4.1.3.1 Sub-pillar 2A – Best Use of Assets – is de-
pooled acquisition. signed to optimize the available resources of the
­European nations including organizations and air-
4.1.2 Pillar 1 – Short term Gap Filling – is an opportu- craft platforms. The challenge facing this sub-pillar is
nity for those air forces with a current AAR capability the lack of consensus and standardization across the
gap to explore the potential for commercial AAR pro- 27 nations of the EU. The project leader, the EATC, is
viders to bridge the gap until a more-permanent solu- itself finding difficultly to enforce standardization
tion materializes. The exploratory nature of this pillar is amongst its (current) five nations.

16 JAPCC | Air-to-Air Refuelling Consolidation – An Update | March 2014

 PROJECT TEAM AAR (LEAD EDA)
PILLAR 1 PILLAR 2 PILLAR 3 PILLAR 4

OPTIMIZATION STRATEGIC
SHORT TERM EXISTING ASSETS & ORGANIZATIONS A400M AAR
TANKER
GAP FILLING KITS
2A 2B 2C 2D CAPABILITY

EDA/ EDA/
EDA EATC
MCCE/IT
UK
MCCE
EDA NL

AAR SERVICE BEST USE IT KC767 AAR MRTT

OF CLRNC
VOYAGER
DIC
AAR KITS
CONCEPT ASSETS ACQ & OPS

CONCEPT COLLECTIVE POTENTIAL DIPLOMATIC

OEWG EDA/ MoU
DEMO CLEARANCE SPARE CLEARANCE
OCCAR
TRIAL TRIAL CAPACITY TA

Start 2012 2012 2012 2012 2013 2012 2012

CONTINOUS
Deliver 2014 PROCESS
2013 2015 2015 2016 2020

Figure 1: The EDA AAR Initiative.

4.1.3.2 Sub-pillar 2B – AAR Clearances – The Italian Air ther research, it was concluded that the problem was
Force (ITAF) has been extremely proactive by creating not the fact that AAR was being conducted across
a consolidated trials process during which tankers (in borders, but that the receivers in trail were fighter or
this case the ITAF KC-767) and receivers can co-­ attack aircraft. It was decided to close this sub-pillar of
ordinate and execute en masse AAR clearances. the AAR initiative and shift the issue of cross border
The desired output is the actual process, including the fighter/attack aircraft to another office in the EDA.
sharing of AAR technical data, with the secondary
effect of the certification of the ITAF tanker. The pro- 4.1.4 Pillar 3 – AAR kits – under this pillar, the EDA (in
cess is being carefully watched by the Royal Air Force cooperation with the Organisation Conjointe de
(RAF) with a view to clearing receiver aircraft on its Coopération en matière d’Armement (OCCAR2) has
A330 Voyager. drafted a business model to cost the procurement of
an additional 31 AAR kits (31 underwing pods and 15
4.1.3.3 Pillar 2C – Voyager – The RAF has identified centreline Hose Drogue Units (HDU)) for Airbus
spare capacity in Voyager capability (flight and simu- A400M user nations. Under current plans, only 29
lator hours, training and maintenance etc.), beyond AAR kits have been procured (Germany 10, France 10
the UK’s national requirement. There is potential and Spain 9) to equip a European fleet of 1603 A400M
for third party use with nations who procure the aircraft. It is uncertain at this stage if agreement can
Airbus MRTT. be reached to fund (cost circa. € 350M) these addi-
tional kits and whether this option is a viable solu-
4.1.3.4 Pillar 2D – Diplomatic Clearances – aimed to tion to Europe’s requirement. Whilst the EDA is keen
standardize, or deregulate, the Diplomatic Clearance to facilitate a multinational approach, it appears that
process in order for tankers and receivers to cross na- any formal agreement will be decided along
tional airspace boundaries under a single diplomatic national lines; and thus this pillar has been put in a
clearance, rather than multiple clearances. Upon fur- dormant status.

JAPCC | Air-to-Air Refuelling Consolidation – An Update | March 2014 17

 4.1.5 Pillar 4 – Pooled Acquisition and Pooled Oper­ bomber aircraft and the probe and drogue system is
ation – Aims to increase the numbers of medium- needed to support predominantly the US Navy and
to-large sized strategic tankers through pooled pro- Special Operations community.
curement and/or pooled operation. This pillar has
progressed, under the leadership of the Netherlands,
4.3 Commercial AAR Services
from a Letter of Intent to the drafting of a MoU
­between the participating nations (Belgium, Greece, 4.3.1 The use of commercial industry to fill shortfalls
Hungary, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, in military AAR capability is well established in both
­Poland, Portugal and Spain). The MoU, to be signed in the US and the UK and a potential short term solution
2015, will seek to establish the respective level of to Europe’s capability gap. Omega Air Refueling Ser-
­nations’ participation. Under pooled acquisition the vices is contracted to the meet the operational needs
first aircraft will be delivered by 2020. The option for of the US Navy and Marine Corps, as well as Foreign
pooled operation could potentially see the formation Military or specialized industry Research and Develop-
of a multinational unit and/or common logistic sup- ment projects. In the UK, AirTanker delivers the RAF’s
port. As of now, only The Netherlands, Norway and Voyager MRTT capability with aircraft, infrastructure,
Poland are still committed to pooled operation of service and training.
new aircraft. Belgium has committed to purchase
dedicated flight hours on the new tanker but will not
operate them. Spain is committed to pooled acquisi-
tion but will operate its tankers independently.

4.1.6 But still, after all this effort, Europe will, accord-

ing to current national procurement plans, field less
than 100 tankers and less than 40 % of NATO’s stated
requirement. One interim solution would be for Euro-
pean nations to operate a multinational unit flying ex
USAF KC-135Rs. But the nations have already ex-
pressed their desire for only new aircraft and with the
USAF proposed retirement of the KC-10A, the US will
probably be less inclined to ‘give’ away KC-135Rs.

4.2 One Size Fits All?

A potential solution to address Europe’s shortfall is
to revert to a single system – probe and drogue. The
majority of European future receivers will be probe,
not boom, equipped; and whilst it would be bene­
ficial for European interoperability, nations are que­
stioning whether to buy new tankers with both
systems (Italy being the notable exception having
already bought the KC-767 with both systems). Any
European move to probe and drogue would how-
ever harm interoperability with the largest supplier
© Omega Air

of AAR capability – the United States. The US will

continue with both systems; the boom receptacle
system is needed to refuel their large cargo and

18 JAPCC | Air-to-Air Refuelling Consolidation – An Update | March 2014

4.3.2 Civilian contractors are being used to backfill other times when there is no spare capacity, contract
training whilst military resources are utilized on com- AAR may be the only alternative. But it is not in the
bat operations. However, should the argument that interest of the commercial AAR firms to provide this
civilian companies cannot provide warfighting AAR service only at these times since it is very unpredict-
capability be investigated? Furthermore, tankers rou- able when and how often this service will be needed.
tinely operate in benign areas outside of the threat Commercial AAR firms must have stable contracts to
area. Does this require military aircraft and aircrews? provide their services on a regular basis so they can
plan to have the resources (crews and aircraft) to meet
4.3.3 Even if the previous questions are answered this need. Any surge capability must be located in the
­favourably, there is still a reluctance by nations to con- nation’s AAR fleets, since nations do not have the
tract for AAR services from a private company. The same financial restraints that corporations have.
obvious problem is cost; many nations in peacetime
1. European Defence Agency, Defence Ministers' Political Declaration Regarding Air-to-Air Refuelling
can access spare AAR capacity relatively cheaply Capabilities, 22 Mar. 2012 (Brussels, 2012).
2. OCCAR, established in 1996, is an international organization whose core-business is the through life
through the MCCE and the ATARES mechanism or management of collaborative defence equipment programmes. The organization currently comprises
purchase spare US capacity through an FMS case. The 6 members: Belgium, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy and Spain.
3. Germany has announced that 13 of the original 53 aircraft procured are surplus to their national
problem is that during contingency operations or requirement.

JAPCC | Air-to-Air Refuelling Consolidation – An Update | March 2014 19

 © U.S. Air Force, Airman 1st class Xavier Lockley
CHAPTER V 5.2 Operational Level Doctrine
5.2.1 Allied Tactical Publication (ATP)-3.3.4 Vol.I
Recommended Reading Air Transport Doctrine and ATP-3.3.4 Vol.II Air-to-Air
Refuelling Doctrine.
5.1 Strategic Level Doctrine
5.2.2 The current, ratified doctrine covers both AT
5.1.1 Military Committee Memorandum (MCM) 217 All­ and AAR but as separate disciplines and not when
iance Air-to-Air Refuelling Concept dated 23 Sep­tember sim­ultaneously employed in a single mission in sup-
1998. The North Atlantic Military Committee approved port of a multinational coalition. A study is in prog-
the Alliance AAR Concept in 1998; however, the Interna- ress to disband ATP-3.3.4 Volume I & II, to incorporate
tional Military Staff recognized, in December 2005, the them into AJP-3.3 and in the pertinent tactical proce-
concept was grossly out of date and no longer dures (ATP-3.3.4.2 & ATP-3.3.4.3).
adequately addressed the subject. Allied Command
Transformation (ACT) was assigned to lead a revision. 5.2.3 The requirement for multinational Simultane-
ous AT/AAR Doctrine has been investigated by both
Recommendation 7: NATO’s Strategic-level AAR the Air Transport Working Group and the Air-to-Air
Concept should be revised. Refuelling Working Group, but no agreement could
be reached as to the need to further develop this doc-
5.1.2 Allied Joint Publication (AJP)-3.3 Joint Air & Space trine. The likely action is for nations to include more
Operations is currently under revision and the new informantion in their National SRDs to ATP-3.3.4.2 as to
version will contain updated AAR content. what type of AT missions are allowed in conjunction

20 JAPCC | Air-to-Air Refuelling Consolidation – An Update | March 2014

with AAR. This concept of simultaneous AT/AAR is not • Multinational AAR Qualifications and Currency. Sim-
new; specific countries have been operating their ilar to the AAR Clearance Process, the minimum ac-
tankers in this manner but only at a national level, or ceptable standards (for safe AAR operations) re-
at best at a limited bilateral level. The challenge is to mains the responsibility of the risk holder i.e. the
make optimum use of all tankers in the multinational national authority. There is currently no common
environment. multinational standard for receiver aircrews and
boom operators; this lack of interoperability further
complicates multinational planning and flexibility
5.3 Tactical Level Procedures
during operations.
5.3.1 NATO’s ‘book’ for AAR procedures is ATP-3.3.4.2
(STANAG 3971, formerly known as ATP-56). It must • Technical Compatibility Matrix. A key Lesson Identi-
be stressed that this is a procedural document and fied by the CAOC planners during OUP was the diffi-
not an authority to conduct AAR operations. This au- culty in cross referencing tanker and receiver data
thority remains a bilateral issue between the tanker from the paper copy ATP-3.3.4.2. The national data
and receiver nations. has been replicated in an electronic matrix for easier
access by CAOC planners and operational users.
5.3.1.1 ATP-3.3.4.2 Edition (C) Version 1 was promul-
gated in November of 2013. Edition (C) incorporates Recommendation 8: Nations should aid in the revi-
the changes required to the STANAG format, includ- sion and implementation of the proposed SRDs to
ing the replacement of Annexes with SRD, and ATP-3.3.4.2.
changes to the ratification and promulgation
criteria. Edition (C) also includes the addition of a 5.3.1.3 AAR Equipment STANAGs. It is assumed that,
new chapter for Tilt R­ otor AAR. The intent (by 2020) no matter the tanker or receiver platform, manned or
is to add a future chapter for AAR involving Un- unmanned, the boom and the probe and drogue sys-
manned Aerial Systems, whether unmanned t­ ankers tems will remain as the two principle AAR systems for
or receivers. the foreseeable future (until 2050). The NATO ­STANAGs
for AAR materiel are:
5.3.1.2 SRDs are a useful tool to disseminate ideas
and information without the need to substantially • STANAG 3447 Ed. 4, AAR Equipment: Probe-Drogue
change the STANAG (the agreement and associated Interface Characteristics;
Allied Publication) which would require re-submission
for ratification. The following SRDs have been pro- • STANAG 7191 Ed. 1, (ATP-3.3.4.5), AAR Equipment:
posed for inclusion to ATP-3.3.4.2: Boom-Receptacle System and Interface Require-
ments;
• Guide to the Multinational AAR Clearance Process.
The AAR Clearance Process remains a national (bi- • STANAG 7215 Ed. 1 (ATP-3.3.4.7), AAR Signal Lights in
lateral) task agreed between the tanker and receiver Probe and Drogue Systems;
nations. There is currently no common, multinational
methodology to the clearance process with poor • STANAG 7218, Hose Colour and Markings in Probe
communication and data sharing between nations and Drogue Systems, is still in the study phase prior
with the same tankers and receivers. to submission and consideration for ratification.

JAPCC | Air-to-Air Refuelling Consolidation – An Update | March 2014 21

 © Boeing
CHAPTER VI – Identify training/exercise opportunities to inte-
grate AAR planning and execution.
Recommendations/
– Establish the minimum safe level of live AAR train-
Conclusions ing required and the potential for the increased
use of complementary synthetic training.
6.1 List of Recommendations
• Recommendation 1: A permanent office or advocate • Recommendation 7: NATO’s Strategic-level AAR Con-
for AAR capability within AIRCOM is required to en- cept is outdated, no longer relevant and should be
sure coherence between Allied Command Oper­ revised.
ations, Allied Command Transformation and the
­Alliance nations. • Recommendation 8: Nations should aid in the revi-
sion and implementation of the proposed SRDs to
• Recommendation 2: Air Chiefs should impress upon ATP-3.3.4.2.
their Airworthiness/Release-to-Service staffs the im-
portance of the ‘need to share’ technical data with
6.2 Conclusions
respect to AAR clearances.
NATO, AIRCOM and the Allied Nations must act on
• Recommendation 3: Air Commanders should ensure these recommendations if they hope to address the
JFAC staffs are fully trained (qualified and current) for three key issues facing the AAR capability of NATO,
their assigned task and conversant with the organi- namely: the resources required to meet the level of
zational and command structures. ambition; the lack of ‘ownership’ of AAR within the
NATO Command Structure; and improving the level
• Recommendation 4: NATO should introduce a com- of interoperability between tanker and receiver air-
mon training programme for AAR Planning staff as a craft. If these issues are not properly addressed,
pre-employment course in a NATO Air Operations NATO risks not being able to support future oper­
Centre. ations with the same level of AAR support it has in
the past and AAR may shift from a key enabler to a
• Recommendation 5: NATO should adopt common limiting factor. While the current economic situation
minimum qualification and currency standards in has had a negative effect on military budgets, there
order to mitigate risk during multinational AAR
­ is much the nations and NATO can do with little or
­operations. no additional funding that can improve efficiency
and effectiveness in the AAR community and en-
• Recommendation 6: NATO Joint Collective Training sure the Alliance has the fuel in the air it needs to
should be reviewed to: protect our nations.

22 JAPCC | Air-to-Air Refuelling Consolidation – An Update | March 2014

ANNEX A
Acronyms and Abbreviations

AAR Air-to-Air Refuelling EAC European Airlift Centre

AARWG Air-to-Air Refuelling EATC European Air Transport Command

Working Group
EDA European Defence Agency
ACO Allied Command Operations
FTAR Future Technologies Aerial Refueling
ACT Allied Command Transformation
HDU Hose Drogue Unit
AE Aeromedical Evacuation
ISR Intelligence, Surveillance and
AIRCOM Air Command Reconnaissance

AJP Allied Joint Publication IST Inland Surface Transportation

AOC Air Operations Centre ITAF Italian Air Force

AP Allied Publication JAFC Joint Air Force Component

ARSAG Aerial Refueling Systems JAPCC Joint Air Power Competence Centre
Advisory Group
LOA Level of Ambition
AT Air Transport
MCASB Military Committee Air
ATARES Air Transport and AAR Refuelling Standardization Board
Exchange of Services
MCCE Movement Coordination
ATO Air Tasking Order Centre Europe

ATP Allied Tactical Publication MCM Military Committee Memorandum

BDA Boom Drogue Adaptor MJO Major Joint Operation

C2 Command and Control MMTT Multi-Mission Tanker Transport

CAOC Combined Air Operations Centre MoU Memorandum of Understanding

CSDP Common Security and MRTT Multi-Role Tanker Transport

Defence Policy
NASA National Aeronautical and Space
DoD Department of Defense Administration

JAPCC | Air-to-Air Refuelling Consolidation – An Update | March 2014 23

 NATO North Atlantic Treaty Organization SCC Sealift Coordination Cell

NCS NATO Command Structure SJO Small Joint Operation

NDPP NATO Defence Planning Process ST Surface Transportation

OCCAR Organisation Conjointe de STANAG Standardization

Coopération en matière d’Armement Agreement

OPCON Operational Control TG Technical Group

PCM Partnership Cooperation Menu TT Tanker Transport

RAF Royal Air Force UAS Unmanned Aerial Systems

RW Rotary Wing USAFE US Air Forces Europe

24 JAPCC | Air-to-Air Refuelling Consolidation – An Update | March 2014

JAPCC | Air-to-Air Refuelling Consolidation – An Update | March 2014 25
 Joint Air Power Competence Centre
von-Seydlitz-Kaserne
Römerstraße 140 | 47546 Kalkar (Germany) | www.japcc.org

26 JAPCC | Air-to-Air Refuelling Consolidation – An Update | March 2014