Free Republic

When Canada gets its fleet of 65 F-35 stealth fighter jets, they will all be able to be refuelled mid-flight without buying costly additional equipment, according to Defence Minister Peter MacKay. The controversial jet purchase came under fire again Monday amid media reports Canada's current tanker aircraft can’t work with the F-35 systems. Liberal industry critic Marc Garneau accused the government of "forgetting" about the need to be able to refuel the fighter jets in the air during long flights and suggested Canada will have to spend "hundreds of millions" on new equipment. "It is getting more expensive every day....

Canadian military can't refuel controversial fighter jet in mid-air By David Pugliese, Postmedia News January 31, 2011 The Canadian military does not have the ability to conduct aerial refuelling of the F-35 fighter jet it wants to purchase and is now looking at ways to get around the problem, the Ottawa Citizen has learned. Options range from paying for modifications to the stealth jets to purchasing a new fleet of tanker aircraft that can gas up the high-tech fighters in mid-air. That option could cost several hundred million dollars, depending on how many new tankers are needed, according to sources....

Pakistan gets its first air-to-air refueling tanker Posted by David A. Fulghum at 12/21/2009 3:17 PM CST Here’s another Christmas present for the Pentagon. The first of four Ilyushin Il-78MP tanker/cargo aircraft was delivered to Pakistan Dec. 19. Pictured here is the aircraft during aircrew and aircraft trials in Ukraine in Oct. The aircraft were modified from surplus Ukranian aircraft stocks. Credit: Jenyk, Ukrainian Spotter's Site. Click here to see all 11 photos. Also pictured is one of a small number of Pakistani Mirages modified with an in-air refueling probe. The tanker can refuel two aircraft in the air or...

News blackout imposed on American arms flights refuelling at British bases By Thomas Harding, Defence Correspondent (Filed: 02/08/2006) The Government refused last night to give details of the flights entering Britain containing American arms destined for Israel. There was also a suggestion that all arms flights via Prestwick airport, near Glasgow, were suspended following pressure from Scottish Labour MPs afraid of the political impact in their constituencies. An Atlas Air Boeing 747 cargo jet at Prestwick Airport Although Government officials have admitted that two flights, carrying GBU28 bunker-busting bombs, arrived at Prestwick the weekend before last and several others came...

ROME: Italy said Wednesday it has given the United States permission to use its bases for refuelling and other "technical" needs in a possible war with Iraq - one of the few concrete military offers from Europe and another sign of Italy's support for Washington's hard line against Baghdad. At the same time, Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said Italy wanted to give more time to U.N. weapons inspectors to disarm Iraq peacefully and give Baghdad a final chance to comply with U.N. resolutions. The developments came hours before Premier Silvio Berlusconi's scheduled meetings with British Prime Minister Tony Blair, the...