KC-46 refueled an AFSOC CV-22 for the first time

The KC-46 has operationally refueled a Air Force Special Operations Command CV-22 for the first time. The milestone took place on Jun. 1.

A CV-22 Osprey tiltroter aircraft assigned to the 20th Special Operations Squadron and a KC-46 Pegasus tanker aircraft assigned to the 349th Air Refueling Squadron conduct the first ever in-air refueling operation undertook between the two aircraft over Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico, June 1, 2022. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Max J. Daigle)

The CV-22 was assigned to the 20th Special Operations Squadron while the KC-46 came from the 349th Air Refueling Squadron.

“This being the first time we operationally refueled with a KC-46, we were able to get some good video for training and development,” said Maj. Anthony Belviso, the CV-22 aircraft commander. “We were also able to get some understanding of what it feels like to fly behind the jet, and work on some different refueling techniques and practices.”

According to Belviso, the time taken to refuel an Osprey in mid-air during real-world missions is faster when fuel is taken from a KC-46 as previously, the MC-130J had to rendezvous with a tanker to top up fuel before passing it to the CV-22.

“Because KC-46s can refuel us directly, we can go straight to them and get everything done much more quickly,” Belviso said.

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