Luftwaffe’s next heavy-lift helicopter needs to have inflight refueling capability

A senior German Air Force officer told Flight Global at Defence IQ International Military Helicopter conference in London on Jan. 31 that the next heavy-lift helicopter for the Luftwaffe needs to be inflight refueling capable.

By DVIDSHUB (Helicopter Air Refueling Mission) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Col Bernhard Martin says a winner for the tender will be selected in 2020 and first delivery to be scheduled in 2023.

So far, the CH-53K and CH-47 are seen as potential contenders. However, only the MH-47G has an inflight refueling capability.