Italian Air Force Completes Typhoon Refueling Program with KC-130J Tanker

Released on Monday, November 10, 2008

Fight-refuelling tests of a double-seat Eurofighter with a KC-130J Hercules of the Italian Air Force in the tanker version have been successfully completed in Decimomannu.

The aircraft, the Italian IPA2, used in Alenia Aeronautica's testing, after having completed a series of ground tests, has accomplished flight tests through 5 missions (including three in one day only), of which one in a "clean" configuration, the others with a configuration with three supplementary tanks, two under the wings and a central one under the fuselage. During these tests, including a night one, the Typhoon has made 8 "wet" contacts with the tanker, i.e. with actual fuel transfer by the C-130J.

The Italian Air Force has started about two years ago a programme for the setting up of eight C-130Js in the tanker configuration for their use, when requested, for domestic needs and within international operations.