KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport Archives

Royal Australian Air Force aircraft technician Corporal Aisha Norton-O'Donnell inspects the advanced refuelling boom system of a 33 Squadron KC-30A multi-role tanker transport aircraft, during air-to-air refuelling trials with the US Air Force. Story by Flight Lieutenant Grace Casey-Maughan. Photos by US Air Force.

Air-to-air refuelling trials complete

29/07/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 663 Views 0 Comments Aircraft Research and Development Unit, E-7A Wedgetail, KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport, No. 33 Squadron, US Air Force

The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has completed air-to-air refuelling clearance trials with the United States Air Force (USAF) at

Royal Australian Air Force and Royal Air Force personnel work together to refuel a Royal Australian Air Force KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport aircraft using Sustainable Aviation Fuel at RAAF Base Amberley, Queensland, prior to the commencement of Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025. Story by Cleo Arya. Photos by Leading Aircraftman Neil Bradbury.

News Royal Australian Air Force

Flying clean at Talisman Sabre 2025

18/07/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 738 Views 0 Comments Exercise Talisman Sabre, KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport, No. 33 Squadron, RAAF Amberley, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF)

As Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025 (TS25) ramps up across Australia, the skies above Queensland have marked a new milestone in

Australian Defence Force medical personnel provide assistance to Australian citizens on board a Royal Australian Air Force KC-30A aircraft during a military assisted departure from Tel Aviv, Israel, as part of Operation Beech. Story by Lieutenant Emily Tinker. Photos by Corporal Adam Abela.

Australian Army Middle East News Royal Australian Air Force

Israel relief flight shows pride in mission

09/07/202509/07/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 2272 Views 1 Comment Air Mobility Group (AMG), KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport, No. 33 Squadron

Profound joy and tears of relief greeted the first Australian military-assisted departure flight from Israel on touch down at its

A Royal Australian Air Force F/A-18F Super Hornet aircraft receives fuel from a RAAF KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport over Iraq as part of the Air Task Group for Operation Okra. Story by Warrant Officer Class 2 Max Bree. Photos by Sergeant Mick Davis.

Middle East News Royal Australian Air Force

Air-to-air refuellers kept Operation Okra flying

05/03/202520/03/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1265 Views 0 Comments F/A-18F Super Hornet, KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport, Operation Okra

Flying a Classic Hornet loaded with bombs over Iraq in 2016, Air Commodore Philip Gordon had a problem. CAPTION: A Royal

A RAAF KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport aircraft departs Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, during Exercise Cope North 25. Story b y Flight Lieutenant Madeleine Magee. Photos by Aircraftwoman Mikaela Fernlund.

News Overseas Royal Australian Air Force

Tankers band together in Guam

25/02/202501/03/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 2137 Views 0 Comments Exercise Cope North, Guam, Japan Ground Self Defense Force (JGSDF), KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport, No. 33 Squadron, US Air Force

Australian, Japanese and American refuelling aircraft have joined forces to feed thirsty fast jets in the skies above Guam. CAPTION: A

Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025 competitor Sergeant Emily Lahey is welcomed on board a Royal Australian Air Force KC-30A aircraft by Leading Aircraftwoman Lily Cooper. Story. by Flying Officer Tina Langridge.

ADF People Health and Wellbeing Invictus Games Royal Australian Air Force

Aussie warriors’ inspiring Invictus journey ends

20/02/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1603 Views 0 Comments Invictus Games, KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport

Team Australia’s incredible Invictus Games 2025 campaign has officially concluded after an inspiring and intense nine-day international competition. CAPTION: Invictus Games

A RAAF F-35A Lightning II aircraft departs during Exercise Cope North 25 at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. Story by Flight Lieutenant Madeleine Magee. Photos by Aircraftwoman Mikaela Fernlund.

News Overseas Royal Australian Air Force

Lightning strikes in Guam

12/02/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1480 Views 0 Comments E-7A Wedgetail, Exercise Cope North, F-35A Lightning II, Guam, Japan Air Self-Defense Force, KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport, No. 2 Squadron, No. 33 Squadron, No. 75 Squadron, RAAF Tindal, USAF

Hosted in the Indo-Pacific island of Guam, the last several iterations of Exercise Cope North have traditionally been an opportunity

A RAAF KC-30A receives air-to-air refuelling to enable a record-breaking non-stop flight from RAAF Base Amberley to Jerez, Spain. Story by Tastri Murdoch.

News Overseas Royal Australian Air Force

KC-30A sets RAAF’s longest-flight record

29/11/202429/11/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1992 Views 0 Comments French Air and Space Force’s (FASF), KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport, No. 33 Squadron, RAAF Amberley

In an exciting first for the Royal Australian Air Force, a KC-30A has conducted the longest non-stop RAAF flight on

Members of the Royal Australian Air Force's 33 Squadron meet their counterparts from the Republic of Korea Air Force at Gimhae Air Base during Exercise Freedom Flag 24-1. Story by Squadron Leader Eamon Hamilton.

Asia News Royal Australian Air Force

Building experience and connections in South Korea

13/11/202416/11/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 2335 Views 0 Comments Exercise Freedom Flag, KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport, No. 114MRCU, Republic of Korea, Republic of Korea Air Force, US Air Force, US Army, US Marines

A growing Australian presence at Exercise Freedom Flag 24-1 in the Republic of Korea recently allowed Royal Australian Air Force

A RAAF KC-30A multi-role tanker transport (MRTT) pilot's view of a French Airbus A330 MRTT as they attempt to connect for air-to-air refuelling during Exercise Pitch Black 24. Story by Flight Lieutenant Greg Hinks. Photos by Leading Aircraftwoman Taylor Anderson.

News Royal Australian Air Force

RAAF’s petrol station of the skies

25/07/202426/07/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1853 Views 0 Comments Exercise Pitch Black, KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport, No. 33 Squadron, RAAF Amberley

While cruising at an altitude of 23,000 feet, sitting in a comfortable over-wing seat of a modified Airbus A330, you

A US Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 214 is refuelled by a RAAF 33 Squadron KC-30A Multi Role Tanker Transport aircraft over the Pacific ocean in transit to Australia. Photo: USMC Corporal Nicholas Johnson

News Royal Australian Air Force

RAAF and USMC F-35s train together in NT

12/07/202414/07/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 5299 Views 0 Comments 33 Squadron, Exercise Magpie Lightning, F-35A Lightning II, KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport, No. 3 Squadron, No. 75 Squadron, RAAF Amberley, RAAF Tindal, USMC

The skies over the Northern Territory came alive with different variants of the F-35 Lightning II in May and June

Corporal Casey Childs, a supplier with RAAF 33 Squadron, checks inventory at Gimhae Air Base, in South Korea during Exercise Vigilant Defense 24. Story by Flight Lieutenant Steffi Blavius.

ADF People

Going global with supply role

21/11/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1141 Views 0 Comments ADF Gap Year, Exercise Vigilant Defense, KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport, Korea, No. 33 Squadron

Air Force Corporal Casey Childs has come a long way since moving around during her childhood and settling in the

Leading Aircraftman Zachary Delaney (second from left), a RAAF linguist speaks to a Republic of Korea Air Force member on the flightline at Gimhae Air Base, in South Korea. Story by Flight Lieutenant Steffi Blavius.

ADF People

Linguist builds cultural bridges

17/11/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1173 Views 0 Comments Australian Defence Force School of Languages, Exercise Vigilant Defense, KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport, Korea, No. 33 Squadron

Learning a language is no easy feat, but for Leading Aircraftman Zachary Delaney, it’s a challenge he’s excelled at during

Flying Officer Frances Phelan, an air mobility officer with 33 Squadron, conducts air-to-air refuelling during Exercise Vigilant Defense. Story and photo by Flight Lieutenant Steffi Blavius.

ADF People

Mission confidence soars after hard work

16/11/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 947 Views 0 Comments Exercise Vigilant Defense, KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport, No. 33 Squadron, RAAF Amberley

Flying Officer Frances Phelan is making essential connections for RAAF, most recently during Exercise Vigilant Defense in Korea. CAPTION: Flying Officer

Maintenance crew from a RAAF KC-30A conduct checks on the tarmac at Ben Gurion Airport, Tel Aviv, before an assisted-departure flight to Dubai. Photos by Corporal Robert Whitmore.

Middle East News Overseas Royal Australian Air Force

ADF support for Israel departures

19/10/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 2248 Views 0 Comments C-17A Globemaster III, Israel, KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport, Middle East, Operation Beech

CAPTION: Maintenance crew from a RAAF KC-30A conduct checks on the tarmac at Ben Gurion Airport, Tel Aviv, before an assisted-departure

RAAF personnel assist Australian citizens and their families into a C-17A Globemaster III at Ben Gurion airport in Israel. Photos by Corporal Robert Whitmore.

Middle East News Royal Australian Air Force

ADF support to Aussies escaping Israel

17/10/202317/10/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1830 Views 0 Comments C-17A Globemaster III, KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport, Operation Beech

Two RAAF aircraft – a KC-30A and a C-17A Globemaster III – have joined an Australian-government-supported private charter in safely

Invictus Games 2020 Team Australia competitor Colleen Swifte disembarks a Royal Australian Air Force KC-30A at Düsseldorf Airport, Germany. Story by Belinda Barker. Photos by Flight Sergeant Ricky Fuller.

ADF People Health and Wellbeing

Invictus athletes touch down in Germany

08/09/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1435 Views 0 Comments ADF Sport, Invictus Games, KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport

A touching welcome greeted Team Australia as it touched down in Düsseldorf in readiness for the sixth Invictus Games, which

RAAF KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport from 33 Squadron conducts air-to-air refuelling with F-16A Fighting Falcon aircraft of the Indonesian Air Force. Story by Flight Lieutenant Rachael Blake.

Asia News Royal Australian Air Force

First contacts in Indonesian skies

01/09/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 2150 Views 0 Comments F-16, Indonesian Air Force, KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport, No. 33 Squadron, TNI-AU

For the first time, RAAF has conducted air-to-air refuelling with Indonesia. CAPTION: RAAF KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport from 33 Squadron conducts