RAF deploys Voyager to U.S. for F-35B refueling trials

A Royal Air Force Voyager aerial refueling tanker has been deployed to NAS Patuxent River since Apr. 16 to support air-to-air refueling trials with the F-35B.

BF-04 Flt 361 piloted by LT William Bowen, tanks off an RAF Voyager (KC-30) tanker for the first time on 19 April 2016 from NAS Patuxent River, MD, USA

Photo: Royal Air Force

So far, five flights have been carried out and there will be a total of 20 flights. The final trail is scheduled to occur in mid-June.

The 2015 DOT&E report on the F-35 program noted that the B-variant of the F-35 is unable to take fuel from the wing pods of KC-10 and KC-135. It is unknown whether this was a factor in deploying the Voyager to the United States.