Military Aerial Refueling Tanker Industry

Comprehensive Study on Military Aerial Refueling Tanker Industry

In-flight refueling, also known as in-flight refueling, in-flight refueling (IFR), air-to-air refueling (AAR), and refueling, is the process of transferring aviation fuel from one military aircraft (the tanker) to another (the receiver) while in flight. The two main refueling systems are probe-and-drogue, which is easier to adapt to existing aircraft, and the flying boom, which provides faster fuel transfer but requires a special boom operator station.

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Some of the key players of Military Aerial Refueling Tanker Industry:

Airbus SE, Cobham Plc, Eaton Corporation Plc, Embraer SA, General Electric Co., Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd., Liebherr-International Deutschland GmbH, Lockheed Martin Corp., Rostec State Corp, and the Boeing Co.

The procedure enables the receiving aircraft to stay in the air longer and to extend its range or waiting time at the station. A series of aerial refueling can result in a range that is limited only by crew fatigue and technical factors such as engine oil consumption. Since the receiving aircraft can be refilled with additional fuel in the air, refueling can be made possible with an air launch with a larger payload, which can be weapons, cargo or personnel: the maximum takeoff weight is achieved by using less fuel and refilling in the Maintain air.

Alternatively, a shorter take-off roll can be achieved as it can be easier to take off in the air before refueling. In-flight refueling has also been seen as a means of reducing fuel consumption on long-haul flights over 3,000 nautical miles (5,600 km). Potential fuel savings in the range of 35 to 40% have been estimated for long haul flights (including the fuel used during tanker missions).