This is a list of tanker aircraft used for aerial refuelling of another aircraft whilst in powered flight.

Refueling methods

;Looped hose: The first commercial method employed a hose which was held slack in a trailing half-loop behind both aircraft. The receiving aircraft flew just below the tanker and deployed a steel line, which the tanker caught with its own grappling line and drew in. The tanker then connected the first steel line to the refueling hose and paid it out as the receiving aircraft reeled it back in. ; Probe-and-drogue: The tanker trails a flexible hose with a stabilising drogue on the end and the receiving aircraft manoeuvers to insert a short probe into the receptacle in the drogue. ;

Flying boom Aerial refueling, also referred to as air refueling, in-flight refueling (IFR), air-to-air refueling (AAR), and tanking, is the process of transferring aviation fuel from one aircraft (the tanker) to another (the receiver) while both aircraft a ...

: The tanker extends a hinged telescopic boom with aerodynamic control surfaces on its end. An operator "flies" it to match up with a receptacle on the receiving aircraft, which then moves forwards to make the connection. ;Wing-to-wing: A hybrid method in which the tanker trails a flexible hose from a wing and the receiving aircraft catches it in a hooked receptacle under one of its own wings. ; Buddy refueling: An aircraft type is fitted with both supply and receiving hardware, so that one aircraft can refuel another of the same type.

Gallery

These images illustrate various aerial refuelling methods.

List of aircraft

, +

military A military, also known collectively as armed forces, is a heavily armed, highly organized force primarily intended for warfare. It is typically authorized and maintained by a sovereign state, with its members identifiable by their distinct ...

tanker aircraft used to refuel other aircraft in flight !Tanker
aircraft !based
on ! aircraft
propulsion
method ! Fuel
supply
method !Operators !Date entered use !Current
status !Qty !Notes , - ,

Airbus A310 MRTT The Airbus A310 MRTT Multi-Role Tanker Transport is a military air-to-air refuelling, or in-flight refuelling tanker transport aircraft, capable of operating multi-role missions. The A310 MRTT tanker aircraft is a subsequent development from ...

, , Airbus
A310-300C, , 2x

turbofan The turbofan or fanjet is a type of airbreathing jet engine that is widely used in aircraft engine, aircraft propulsion. The word "turbofan" is a portmanteau of "turbine" and "fan": the ''turbo'' portion refers to a gas turbine engine which ac ...

jet, ,

probe and drogue Aerial refueling, also referred to as air refueling, in-flight refueling (IFR), air-to-air refueling (AAR), and tanking, is the process of transferring aviation fuel from one aircraft (the tanker) to another (the receiver) while both aircraft a ...

, ,

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by to ...

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwee ...

, , , , operational, , 6, , Two for

Royal Canadian Air Force The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF; french: Aviation royale canadienne, ARC) is the air and space force of Canada. Its role is to "provide the Canadian Forces with relevant, responsive and effective airpower". The RCAF is one of three environm ...

(RCAF), known in service as CC-150T Polaris , - ,

Airbus A330 MRTT The Airbus A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) is a European aerial refuelling and military transport aircraft based on the civilian Airbus A330. A total of 16 countries have placed firm orders for approximately 68 aircraft, of which 51 h ...

, , Airbus
A330-200, , 2x

jet, , probe and drogue, ,

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and ...

, , , , production/ operational, , 7 KC2
5(+2) KC3, , In

Royal Air Force The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the United Kingdom's air and space force. It was formed towards the end of the First World War on 1 April 1918, becoming the first independent air force in the world, by regrouping the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) an ...

(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
A330-200, , 2x

jet, ,

flying boom Aerial refueling, also referred to as air refueling, in-flight refueling (IFR), air-to-air refueling (AAR), and tanking, is the process of transferring aviation fuel from one aircraft (the tanker) to another (the receiver) while both aircraft a ...

, ,

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands. With an area of , Australia is the largest country by ...

Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia, officially the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), is a country in Western Asia. It covers the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and has a land area of about , making it the fifth-largest country in Asia, the second-largest in the Ara ...

Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = '' Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , ...

United Arab Emirates The United Arab Emirates (UAE; ar, اَلْإِمَارَات الْعَرَبِيَة الْمُتَحِدَة ), or simply the Emirates ( ar, الِْإمَارَات ), is a country in Western Asia (Middle East, The Middle East). It is ...

/ 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 A turboprop is a turbine engine that drives an aircraft propeller. A turboprop consists of an intake, reduction gearbox, compressor, combustor, turbine, and a propelling nozzle. Air enters the intake and is compressed by the compressor. ...

, , probe and drogue, , Spain / Germany / France, , , , operational, , , , , - , Airco DH.4, , Airco DH.4, , propeller, , gravity flow hose, ,

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country Continental United States, primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., ...

, , , , retired, , 1, , US Army Air Service trials at Rockwell Field, San Diego, California. , - ,

Avro Lancaster The Avro Lancaster is a British Second World War heavy bomber. It was designed and manufactured by Avro as a contemporary of the Handley Page Halifax, both bombers having been developed to the same specification, as well as the Short Stir ...

, , Avro Lancaster, , 4x propeller, , probe and drogue, , United Kingdom, , , , retired, , , , Purchased and converted by Flight Refuelling Limited (FRL). , - , Avro Lancastrian, ,

, , 4x propeller, , probe and drogue, , United Kingdom, , , , 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. , - ,

Avro Lincoln The Avro Type 694 Lincoln is a British four-engined heavy bomber, which first flew on 9 June 1944. Developed from the Avro Lancaster, the first Lincoln variants were initially known as the Lancaster IV and V; these were renamed Lincoln I and I ...

, ,

, , 4x propeller, , probe and drogue, , United Kingdom, , , , retired, , , , Purchased and converted by Flight Refuelling Limited (FRL). , - , 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

jet, , probe and drogue, , United Kingdom, , , , retired, , , , Buddy-buddy refuelling. , - , Boeing
KB-29M, ,

Boeing B-29 Superfortress The Boeing B-29 Superfortress is an American four-engined propeller-driven heavy bomber, designed by Boeing and flown primarily by the United States during World War II and the Korean War. Named in allusion to its predecessor, the B-17 Fl ...

, , 4x propeller, , probe and drogue, , United States, , , , 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. , - , Boeing
KB-29P, , Boeing B-29 Superfortress, , 4x propeller, , flying boom, , United States, , , , retired, , 100+, , , - , Boeing
KB-50, ,

Boeing B-50 Superfortress The Boeing B-50 Superfortress is an American strategic bomber. A post– World War II revision of the Boeing B-29 Superfortress, it was fitted with more powerful Pratt & Whitney R-4360 radial engines, stronger structure, a taller tail fin, and ...

, , 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 The Boeing B-29 Superfortress is an American four-engined propeller-driven heavy bomber, designed by Boeing and flown primarily by the United States during World War II and the Korean War. Named in allusion to its predecessor, the B-17 ...

descendant. , - , 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 The Boeing 707 is an American, long-range, narrow-body airliner, the first jetliner developed and produced by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. Developed from the Boeing 367-80 prototype first flown in 1954, the initial first flew on December 2 ...

, ,

, , 4x jet, , probe and drogue, , Canada / Israel / Spain / Italy, , , , 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 cCC-137 Husky, Spain and Italy have retired their 707 tanker aircraft. , - , 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 The Boeing KC-46 Pegasus is an American military aerial refueling and strategic military transport aircraft developed by Boeing from its 767 jet airliner. In February 2011, the tanker was selected by the United States Air Force (USAF) as the ...

, , 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, , , , retired, , , , Used for flight tests with a B–17E receiver. , - , 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 The Douglas A-3 Skywarrior is a jet-powered strategic bomber that was developed and produced by the Douglas Aircraft Company. It was designed by Douglas on behalf of the United States Navy, which sought a carrier-capable strategic bomber. Dur ...

, , 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 The turbojet is an airbreathing jet engine which is typically used in aircraft. It consists of a gas turbine with a propelling nozzle. The gas turbine has an air inlet which includes inlet guide vanes, a compressor, a combustion chamber, a ...

, , probe and drogue, , United States, , , , retired, , , , Buddy-buddy refuelling. , - , Douglas C-1, , Douglas C-1, , propeller, , gravity flow hose, , United States, , , , 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. , - , Embraer
KC-390, ,

Embraer C-390 Millennium The Embraer C-390 Millennium is a medium-size, twin-engine, jet-powered military transport aircraft designed and produced by the Brazilian aerospace manufacturer Embraer. It is the heaviest aircraft the company has constructed to date. Work on ...

, , 2x

, , probe and drogue, ,

Brazil Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: ), is the largest country in both South America and Latin America. At and with over 217 million people, Brazil is the world's fifth-largest country by area ...

, , , , , , , , 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, , , , retired, , 3, , Three Harrows were operated by Flight Refuelling Limited, and refuelled Short Empire

flying boat A flying boat is a type of fixed-winged seaplane with a hull, allowing it to land on water. It differs from a floatplane in that a flying boat's fuselage is purpose-designed for floatation and contains a hull, while floatplanes rely on fuselag ...

s on transatlantic services, two from Gander, Newfoundland and one based in Foynes, Ireland. , - , Handley Page
Type W, , Handley Page
W.10, , 2x propeller, , looped hose, , United Kingdom, , , , retired, , 2, , Early trials and demonstrations by

Flight Refuelling Ltd Flight or flying is the process by which an object moves through a space without contacting any planetary surface, either within an atmosphere (i.e. air flight or aviation) or through the vacuum of outer space (i.e. spaceflight). This can be a ...

using a

piston engine A reciprocating engine, also often known as a piston engine, is typically a heat engine that uses one or more reciprocating pistons to convert high temperature and high pressure into a rotating motion. This article describes the common feat ...

biplane A biplane is a fixed-wing aircraft with two main wings stacked one above the other. The first powered, controlled aeroplane to fly, the Wright Flyer, used a biplane wing arrangement, as did many aircraft in the early years of aviation. While a ...

. , - , Handley
Page
Victor, , Handley
Page
Victor, , 4x jet, , probe and drogue, , United Kingdom, , , , retired, , 30, , B(K).1A, K.1, K.1A and K.2 variants in

service, operated by No. 55 Squadron from

RAF Marham RAF Marham is a Royal Air Force station and military airbase near the village of Marham in the English county of Norfolk, East Anglia. It is home to No. 138 Expeditionary Air Wing (138 EAW) and, as such, is one of the RAF's "Main Operating Ba ...

. A number of Victor tankers saw action during Black Buck raids of the 1982

Falklands War The Falklands War ( es, link=no, Guerra de las Malvinas) was a ten-week undeclared war between Argentina and the United Kingdom in 1982 over two British dependent territories in the South Atlantic: the Falkland Islands and its territorial ...

, refuelling the Avro Vulcan bombers multiple times during each bombing run. Fleet retired October 1993. , - ,

Ilyushin Il-78 The Ilyushin Il-78 (russian: Илью́шин Ил-78; NATO reporting name Midas) is a Soviet/Russian four-engined aerial refueling tanker based on the Il-76 strategic airlifter. Design and development The Soviet Union's first dedicated t ...

''Midas'', ,

Ilyushin Il-76 The Ilyushin Il-76 (russian: Илью́шин Ил-76; NATO reporting name: Candid) is a multi-purpose, fixed-wing, four-engine turbofan strategic airlifter designed by the Soviet Union's Ilyushin design bureau. It was first planned as a com ...

, , 4x

, , probe and drogue, ,

USSR The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, it was nominally a federal union of fifteen nati ...

India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area, the List of countries and dependencies by population, second-most populous ...

, China, , , , , , , , , - ,

Lockheed HC-130 Hercules The Lockheed HC-130 is an extended-range, search and rescue (SAR)/combat search and rescue (CSAR) version of the C-130 Hercules military transport aircraft, with two different versions operated by two separate services in the U.S. armed forc ...

& KC-130 Hercules, , Lockheed
C-130
Hercules &
C-130J
Super Hercules, , 4x

, , probe and drogue, , Canada / Indonesia / United Kingdom / United States, , , , , , , , Variants:

modified C-130H, Indonesian Air Force modified KC-130B,

modified C-130K,

United States Marine Corps The United States Marine Corps (USMC), also referred to as the United States Marines, is the maritime land force service branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for conducting expeditionary and amphibious operations through c ...

modified C-130F. , - , Lockheed
KS-3B, , Lockheed S-3 Viking, , 2x

, , probe and drogue, , United States, , , , retired, , , , The former primary

US Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...

carrier-based tanker, equipped for buddy-buddy tanking. , - , Lockheed
TriStar
K1/KC1, , Lockheed
L-1011-500
TriStar, , 3x

, , probe and drogue, , United Kingdom, , , , retired, , 6, , Two K1 and four KC1 variants operated by No. 216 Squadron

from RAF Brize Norton. Fleet retired 24 March 2014. , - , LTV A-7
Corsair II, , LTV A-7
Corsair II, , jet, , probe and drogue, ,

Greece Greece,, or , romanized: ', officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the southern tip of the Balkans, and is located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Greece shares land borders wi ...

/ 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 Omega Aerial Refueling Services is a company that provides aerial refueling services for military customers. According to the company's website, Omega developed the first commercial aerial refueling aircraft in 1999, and has provided aerial refue ...

. , - , 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

, , 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 "Air March" , mascot = , anniversaries = 12 August , equipment = , equipment_label = , battles = , decorations = , batt ...

with the in-flight refuelling pod ( – UPAZ) 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

. , - , Vickers
VC10
C1K, K2, K3, K4, , Vickers VC10, Vickers
VC10, , 4x

, , probe and drogue, , United Kingdom, , , , retired, , 27, , C1K (13), K2 (5), K3 (4), and K4 (5) variants served with the

, 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 China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by population, most populous country, with a Population of China, population exceeding 1.4 billion, slig ...

, , , , , , , , People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) of China. , - , Xian
YU-20, , Xian
Y-20, , 4x jet, , probe and drogue, ,

, , , , , , , , People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) of China. , -

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tanker Aircraft, List Of Lists of aircraft by role Lists of military aircraft Military logistics