Airbus-Built Cargo Aircraft Completes Aerial Refueling Mission With Spanish F-18 Jets

An Airbus-built military transport plane refueled multiple F-18 fighter jets of the Spanish air force during an aerial refueling mission that took place Dec. 13.

Airbus said Thursday its A400M aircraft completed an AAR human factors certification flight with six F-18s from Spain’s Center of Logistics for Armament and Experimentation and the Torrejon-based 12th Operational Wing.

The AAR mission covered area changes, receivers with unknown priorities and unexpected increase of receivers,

Spanish F-18s also simulated a fleet of eight through multiple contacts with A400M.

Airbus demonstrated the two-crew cockpit concept for tanker missions and noted that 12.5 tons of fuel were dispensed through underwing pods and a center hose refueling unit during the AAR mission.