Military News Today

Metrea is pleased to announce it will provide specialised aerial refuelling training to the German Air Force’s Tornado and Eurofighter fleets in March 2025. This three-week program, operating in German airspace, will focus on Boom Drogue Adapter (BDA) aerial refuelling techniques for the Tornado, serving as a critical proof of concept for future in-country training services.

This initiative builds upon the successful ‘Pacific Skies’ mission, conducted eight months prior. During this landmark operation, two Metrea KC-135 tankers facilitated the non-stop flight of three German Air Force Eurofighter’s from Japan to Hawaii. The 10-hour, 31-minute mission saw a total of 49.5 tons of fuel transferred, demonstrating Metrea’s exceptional long-range aerial refuelling capabilities.

“We are honoured to continue our partnership with the German Air Force,” stated Slim Morgan (Head of Metrea Strategic Mobility). “The ‘Pacific Skies’ mission highlighted our ability to deliver adaptable and agile aerial refuelling solutions. This new training program represents the next phase of our collaboration, bringing critical training directly to German forces within their own borders.”

Metrea is the sole commercial entity operating a fleet of KC-135 aircraft, providing seamless, safe, and professional air-to-air refuelling services for military training and operations. Currently, Metrea holds a contract with the US Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) to support aerial refuelling requirements for the US Navy, US Marine Corps, US Air Force, and NATO/Allied nations. With a combined experience exceeding 130,000 flying hours across diverse aircraft types and missions, Metrea supports multiple allied national security objectives globally. In addition to the refuelling boom, Metrea’s tanker aircraft are equipped with two wing-mounted Multi-Point Re-fuelling System (MPRS) pods, enabling refuelling for probe-equipped aircraft from partner nations.