Metrea, a leading provider of commercial air-to-air refueling (AAR) services, announced on Mar. 31 that it has been awarded a contract with the Indian Air Force (IAF) to enhance their air-to-air refuelling training capabilities. Under the terms of the agreement, Metrea will provide KC-135 aerial refueling aircraft based out of Indian Air Force Station Agra in Central India. This significant contract is set to considerably expand the IAF’s AAR training capacity, thereby improving their overall operational readiness.
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Airwolfhound from Hertfordshire, UK, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
This latest development follows Metrea’s strategic acquisition in July 2024 of the French Air & Space Force C-135FR and KC-135RG tanker fleet. This acquisition added fourteen tankers to their existing four KC-135R aircraft, bringing Metrea’s total fleet to 18 aircraft, which now stands as the world’s largest commercial aerial refueling fleet, eclipsing all but four sovereign countries in terms of size and capability. Metrea distinguishes itself as the only company to own and operate a fleet of C-/KC-135 aircraft.
Metrea has also achieved notable milestones with the United States Air Force. In a historic first, Metrea provided commercial air-to-air refueling to U.S. Air Force RC-135 and E-3 aircraft in support of exercise RESOLUTE HUNTER. Metrea Strategic Mobility (MSM) executed four aerial refueling support missions between Jun 23 – 29, 2023. These missions included a total of 13 boom contacts and nearly 90,000 pounds of fuel offloaded, providing crucial aerial refueling training for the RC-135 and E-3 crews and enabling them to extend their participation in the exercise. The first U.S. Air Force aircraft to receive commercial air-to-air refueling was an RC-135 Rivet Joint assigned to the 55th Wing from Offutt Air Force Base, followed by an E-3 Sentry assigned to the 552nd Air Control Wing from Tinker Air Force Base.
Prior to this, Metrea marked another historic achievement by performing the first-ever commercial boom aerial refueling of any receiver, which involved a U.S. Navy P-8 Poseidon aircraft on Apr. 17, 2023, off the coast of Florida. During this successful training exercise, two P-8 Poseidon aircraft were refueled over a period of 4 hours, significantly enhancing the readiness and training of a front-line operational Navy Unit. It is noteworthy that U.S. Navy and Marine Corps units regularly utilise commercial aerial refueling services for training and support. Metrea Strategic Mobility has maintained a strong partnership with the U.S. Navy through a NAVAIR contract since late 2021, achieving an impressive mission reliability rate of 93%.
Metrea was also set to provide specialized aerial refueling training to the German Air Force’s Tornado and Eurofighter fleets in March 2025. This three-week program, operating within German airspace, will concentrate on Boom Drogue Adapter (BDA) aerial refuelling techniques for the Tornado, serving as a vital proof of concept for future in-country training services. This initiative builds upon the success of the ‘Pacific Skies’ mission conducted eight months prior, where two Metrea KC-135 tankers facilitated the non-stop flight of three German Air Force Eurofighters from Japan to Hawaii. The 10-hour, 31-minute mission involved the transfer of 49.5 tons of fuel, demonstrating Metrea’s exceptional long-range aerial refueling capabilities.
Metrea Strategic Mobility is the only company to own and operate a fleet of KC-135R aircraft, offering a seamless, safe, and professional air-to-air refueling service for military training and operations. Metrea’s tanker aircraft are equipped with two wing-mounted Multi-Point Refueling System (MPRS) pods, which enable refueling with probe-equipped Navy, Marine Corps, and partner nation aircraft, as well as an air refueling boom to refuel receptacle-equipped receivers, such as Navy P-8’s and U.S. Air Force aircraft.
This new contract with the Indian Air Force underscores the increasing demand for commercial air-to-air refueling services and highlights Metrea’s growing role and global impact in this critical sector. James “Slim” Morgan, Head of Metrea Strategic Mobility, stated, “Metrea is honoured to be working with the Indian Air Force. Our contract will quickly expand their AAR training capability and will facilitate extensive training, exercise, and movement opportunities to improve IAF readiness”.
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