KC-10s provide rapid aerial refueling

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Stephen Linch
  • 380th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFNS) --  Think of this number: 1.2 million. That's the number of pounds of fuel the KC-10s from the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing deliver daily to aircraft that provide air support to warfighters in Afghanistan.

This means that when coalition forces need air support, aircraft such as A-10 Thunderbolt IIs, B-1B Lancers, F-15E Strike Eagles, F-16 Fighting Falcons and U.S. Navy F-18 Hornets are in the air and ready to respond, instead of on the ground, thanks to tankers fueling the fight.

That was the case Oct. 13 when 380th AEW KC-10s delivered 180,000 gallons of fuel to aircraft in Afghanistan. The aircraft refueled by the tankers assisted in ten different troops-in-contact events, including three shows-of-force to deter enemy engagement and two strikes in direct support of coalition forces as they fought insurgents.

On that day, one of the KC-10s refueled several F-18s and A-10s, setting a record for supporting the most troops-in-contact events during a single, combat sortie.

In discussing the importance of aerial refueling, Lt. Col. Michael Rickard, 908th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron commander said KC-10s give the fighters and bombers fuel needed to stay out longer so the aircrews can react quickly when called by troops in contact situations.

"We give them that capability," Colonel Rickard said. 

KC-10 crews deploy twice a year on average, and have very little downtime when they are deployed.

"These guys come out here to fly," said Colonel Rickard, who is on his fifth deployment.

"They are always in some kind of a duty status: flying, crew rest, or on alert."

Having crews on alert adds an important capability, the ability to surge.

"We will surge," Colonel Rickard added. Alert crews are always standing by.

Noting that KC-10 crews are not the only ones ensuring 908th EARS Airmen live up to their motto of "fueling the fight," Colonel Rickard said, "We couldn't do what we do without the maintenance team out here. They work long hours in the heat to make sure we have mission-ready jets to fly."

The 908th EARS is one of 12 squadrons assigned to the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing.  The 380th AEW provides intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and aerial refueling in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom and Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa.