Tanker aircraft
|
based on
|
aircraft propulsion method
|
Fuel supply method
|
Operators
|
Date entered use
|
Current status
|
Qty
|
Notes
|
Airbus A310 MRTT |
Airbus A310-300C |
2x turbofan jet |
probe and drogue |
Canada / France / Germany |
2004 |
operational |
6 |
Two for Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), known in service as CC-150T Polaris
|
Airbus A330 MRTT |
Airbus A330-200 |
2x turbofan jet |
probe and drogue |
United Kingdom |
2011 |
production/ operational |
7 KC2 5(+2) KC3 |
In Royal Air Force (RAF) service, it is exclusively hose-and-drogue, and is known as Voyager KC2 (two under-wing hose and drogue) and Voyager KC3 (two under-wing hose and drogue plus under-fuselage centreline high capacity hose and drogue), with no self-refuelling capability. 14 aircraft have been delivered: seven KC2, five KC3 and two fitted out as KC3.
|
Airbus A330 MRTT |
Airbus A330-200 |
2x turbofan jet |
flying boom |
Australia / Saudi Arabia / Spain / United Arab Emirates / Singapore Multinational Multi-Role Tanker Transport Fleet |
|
production/ operational |
61 |
Versions operated by the Australian (designated KC-30), Emirati, Saudi air forces and the Multinational Multi-Role Tanker Transport Fleet are equipped with both a flying boom and hose and drogue refuelling units.
|
Airbus A400M Atlas |
Airbus A400M Atlas |
4x Europrop TP400 turboprop |
probe and drogue |
Spain / Germany / France |
2013 |
operational |
|
|
Airco DH.4 |
Airco DH.4 |
propeller |
gravity flow hose |
United States |
1923 |
retired |
1 |
US Army Air Service trials at Rockwell Field, San Diego, California.[1]
|
Avro Lancaster |
Avro Lancaster |
4x propeller |
probe and drogue |
United Kingdom |
1948 |
retired |
|
Purchased and converted by Flight Refuelling Limited (FRL).[2]
|
Avro Lancastrian |
Avro Lancaster |
4x propeller |
probe and drogue |
United Kingdom |
1948 |
retired |
4 |
Purchased and converted by Flight Refuelling Limited (FRL), two Lancastrian tankers were based at Shannon, Ireland; the other two in North America, at Goose Bay, Labrador, and Gander, Newfoundland.[2]
|
Avro Lincoln |
Avro Lincoln |
4x propeller |
probe and drogue |
United Kingdom |
|
retired |
|
Purchased and converted by Flight Refuelling Limited (FRL).[2]
|
Avro Vulcan K.2 |
Avro Vulcan |
4x jet |
probe and drogue |
United Kingdom |
1982 |
retired |
6 |
Conversions as interim until VC.10 tankers ready.
|
Blackburn Buccaneer S.2 |
Blackburn Buccaneer S.2 |
2x turbofan jet |
probe and drogue |
United Kingdom |
|
retired |
|
Buddy-buddy refuelling.
|
Boeing KB-29M |
Boeing B-29 Superfortress |
4x propeller |
probe and drogue |
United States |
1948 |
retired |
126 |
The world's first aerial refuelling units were created; the 43d Air Refueling Squadron at Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona, and the 509th at Walker AFB, Roswell, New Mexico. Earlier KB-29M versions used a 'grappling hose' system, later models used a true probe and drogue. One KB-29M, redesignated YKB-29T (nicknamed 'Triple Nipple'), was modified to have another two refuelling hoses on its wingtip.[2]
|
Boeing KB-29P |
Boeing B-29 Superfortress |
4x propeller |
flying boom |
United States |
1948 |
retired |
100+ |
[2]
|
Boeing KB-50 |
Boeing B-50 Superfortress |
4x propeller |
probe and drogue |
United States |
|
retired |
|
An improved model of the B-29 Superfortress.
|
Boeing KB-50 |
Boeing B-50 Superfortress |
4x propeller |
flying boom |
United States |
|
retired |
|
A B-29 derivative.
|
Boeing KC-97 Stratofreighter |
Boeing C-97 Stratofreighter |
4x propeller |
flying boom |
United States / Israel |
|
retired |
|
Based on the B-50, itself another B-29 Superfortress descendant.[2]
|
Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker |
Boeing 367-80 (Dash 80) |
4x jet |
flying boom |
United States / Turkey / France / Chile / Singapore |
|
operational |
|
Boom can be fitted pre-flight with a drogue adapter. AdlA C-135FR/KC-135R Stratotankers use the probe and drogue system and are in the process of being replaced by Airbus A330MRTT 'Phenix'. Singapores KC-135's have been by A330MRTT's and were sold to Meta Aerospace in the USA.
|
Boeing MQ-25 Stingray |
Boeing MQ-25 Stingray |
turbofan |
probe and drogue |
United States |
|
in development |
|
aerial refueling drone
|
Boeing 707 |
Boeing 707 |
4x jet |
probe and drogue |
Canada / Israel / Spain / Italy / United States |
|
operational |
|
New built and conversions of airliners with multi-point refuelling system pods. Israel allegedly converted ex-airliners with booms from withdrawn KC-97's. Two for RCAF as CC-137 Husky, Spain and Italy have retired their 707 tanker aircraft. Omega Aerial Refueling Services operates two in the United States.
|
Boeing KC-33A |
Boeing 747-100 |
4x jet |
flying boom |
Iran |
|
|
4 |
KC-33A is a modified Boeing 747 which lost in the USAF bidding competition to the KC-10 Extender. Four sold to the Iranian Air Force, one operational remaining.
|
Boeing 767MMTT |
Boeing 767 |
2x jet |
probe and drogue |
Colombia |
|
operational |
1 |
Multi Mission Tanker Transport (MMTT) conversion by IAI for the Fuerza Aérea Colombiana (FAC), a 767-200ER fitted with two ARP3 refuelling pods under the wings, and cargo door.
|
Boeing KC-767 |
Boeing 767-200ER |
2x jet |
flying boom |
Italy / Japan |
|
operational |
8 |
With cockpit updates, was (eventually) the winning entry in the USAF KC-X competition.
|
Boeing KC-46 Pegasus |
Boeing 767-200ER |
2x jet |
flying boom |
United States |
|
production |
|
USAF designation for Boeing's updated winning KC-767 entry.
|
Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet |
Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet |
2x jet |
probe and drogue |
United States |
|
|
|
Equipped for buddy-buddy refuelling as 'Strike tankers'. Taking over tanking duties after the S-3 was retired from service.
|
Consolidated B-24 Liberator |
Consolidated B-24 Liberator |
4x propeller |
|
United States |
1943 |
retired |
|
Used for flight tests with a B–17E receiver.[2]
|
Dassault-Breguet Super Étendard |
Dassault-Breguet Super Étendard |
jet |
probe and drogue |
France |
|
|
|
Buddy-buddy refuelling.
|
Dassault Rafale |
Dassault Rafale |
2x jet |
probe and drogue |
France |
|
|
|
Buddy-buddy refuelling.
|
de Havilland Sea Vixen |
de Havilland Sea Vixen |
2x jet |
probe and drogue |
United Kingdom |
|
retired |
|
Buddy-buddy refuelling.
|
Douglas KA-3B Skywarrior |
Douglas A-3 Skywarrior |
jet |
probe and drogue |
United States |
|
retired |
|
Dedicated tanker variant of the Skywarrior. Primary US Navy tanker from the Vietnam War until retirement prior to Desert Storm.
|
Douglas A-4 Skyhawk |
Douglas A-4 Skyhawk |
turbojet |
probe and drogue |
United States |
|
retired |
|
Buddy-buddy refuelling.
|
Douglas C-1 |
Douglas C-1 |
propeller |
gravity flow hose |
United States |
1929 |
retired |
2 |
The C-1 was a single-engine transport, 6,445-pound biplane, transformed into tankers by installing two 150-gallon tanks for off-loading, and a refuelling hose that passed through a hatch cut in the floor.[2][1]
|
Embraer KC-390 |
Embraer C-390 Millennium |
2x turbofan |
probe and drogue |
Brazil |
|
|
|
Cobham air-to-air refuelling system.
|
Grumman KA-6D Intruder |
Grumman A-6 Intruder |
2x jet |
probe and drogue |
United States |
|
retired |
|
Dedicated tanker variant of the Intruder. Attack variants of the A-6 also capable of buddy-buddy tanking.
|
Handley Page HP.54 Harrow |
Handley Page HP.54 Harrow |
2x propeller |
looped hose |
United Kingdom |
1939 |
retired |
3 |
Three Harrows were operated by Flight Refuelling Limited, and refuelled Short Empire flying boats on transatlantic services, two from Gander, Newfoundland and one based in Foynes, Ireland.[2]
|
Handley Page Type W |
Handley Page W.10 |
2x propeller |
looped hose |
United Kingdom |
1935 |
retired |
2 |
Early trials and demonstrations by Flight Refuelling Ltd using a piston engined biplane.[2]
|
Handley Page Victor |
Handley Page Victor |
4x jet |
probe and drogue |
United Kingdom |
1965 |
retired |
30 |
B(K).1A, K.1, K.1A and K.2 variants in Royal Air Force service, operated by No. 55 Squadron from RAF Marham. A number of Victor tankers saw action during Black Buck raids of the 1982 Falklands War, refuelling the Avro Vulcan bombers multiple times during each bombing run. Fleet retired October 1993.
|
Ilyushin Il-78 Midas |
Ilyushin Il-76 |
4x turbofan |
probe and drogue |
USSR, India, China |
|
|
|
|
Lockheed HC-130 Hercules & KC-130 Hercules |
Lockheed C-130 Hercules & C-130J Super Hercules |
4x turboprop |
probe and drogue |
Canada / Indonesia / United Kingdom / United States |
|
|
|
Variants: Royal Canadian Air Force modified C-130H, Indonesian Air Force modified KC-130B, Royal Air Force modified C-130K, United States Marine Corps modified C-130F.[1]
|
Lockheed KS-3B |
Lockheed S-3 Viking |
2x turbofan |
probe and drogue |
United States |
|
retired |
|
The former primary US Navy carrier-based tanker, equipped for buddy-buddy tanking.
|
Lockheed TriStar K1/KC1 |
Lockheed L-1011-500 TriStar |
3x turbofan |
probe and drogue |
United Kingdom |
1986 |
retired |
6 |
Two K1 and four KC1 variants operated by No. 216 Squadron Royal Air Force from RAF Brize Norton. Fleet retired 24 March 2014.
|
LTV A-7 Corsair II |
LTV A-7 Corsair II |
jet |
probe and drogue |
Greece / United States |
|
retired |
|
Equipped for buddy-buddy tanking in US Navy and Greek Air Force service.
|
McDonnell Douglas KC-10 Extender |
McDonnell Douglas DC-10 |
3x jet |
flying boom |
Netherlands / United States |
|
operational |
|
Also has a retractable hose and drogue that can be selected in-flight. Can be fitted with two underwing pods (similar to the KC-135's MPRS) capable of simultaneously refuelling two receiver aircraft (Wing Air Refueling Pods or WARPs). The Royal Netherlands Air Force operates one out of originally two KDC-10s; former civil aircraft modified to a standard similar to the KC-10. The remaining KDC-10 will be withdrawn by the end of 2021. After overhaul, it will follow the other KDC-10 to be operated with Omega Aerial Refueling Services.
|
Mikoyan MiG-29K |
Mikoyan MiG-29M |
jet |
probe and drogue |
USSR |
|
|
|
Buddy-buddy refuelling.
|
Myasishchev M-4-2 |
Myasishchev M-4 bomber |
4x jet |
probe and drogue |
USSR |
|
retired |
|
|
Myasishchev 3MS-2 |
Myasishchev 3M bomber |
4x jet |
probe and drogue |
USSR |
|
retired |
|
|
Panavia Tornado |
Panavia Tornado |
2x turbofan |
probe and drogue |
|
|
retired |
|
Buddy-buddy refuelling.
|
Sukhoi Su-24M |
Sukhoi Su-24 |
2x jet |
probe and drogue |
USSR |
|
|
|
Equipped for buddy-buddy refuelling in the Russian Air Force with the in-flight refuelling pod (Russian: universalny podvesnoy agregat zapravki – UPAZ)[3] container as 'Strike tankers'.
|
Sukhoi Su-33 |
Sukhoi Su-33 |
2x jet |
probe and drogue |
USSR |
|
|
|
Buddy-buddy refuelling.
|
Supermarine Scimitar |
Supermarine Scimitar |
jet |
probe and drogue |
United Kingdom |
|
retired |
|
Buddy-buddy refuelling.
|
Tupolev Tu-16N |
Tupolev Tu-16 bomber |
2x jet |
probe and drogue |
USSR |
|
|
|
|
Tupolev Tu-16Z |
Tupolev Tu-16 |
2x jet |
wing to wing |
USSR |
|
|
|
|
Vickers Valiant B(K).1, B(PR)K.1 |
Vickers Valiant |
4x jet |
probe and drogue |
United Kingdom |
|
retired |
|
The Valiants had removable tanker system in the bomb bay. Operated by Royal Air Force.
|
Vickers VC10 C1K, K2, K3, K4]] |
Vickers VC10 |
4x turbofan |
probe and drogue |
United Kingdom |
|
retired |
27 |
C1K (13), K2 (5), K3 (4), and K4 (5) variants served with the Royal Air Force, operated by 10 Squadron, 101 Squadron, and 1312 Flight. Fleet retired 20 September 2013.
|
Xian H-6U |
Xian H-6 |
2x jet |
probe and drogue |
China |
|
|
|
People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) of China.
|
Xian YU-20 |
Xian Y-20 |
4x jet |
probe and drogue |
China |
|
|
|
People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) of China.
|