KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport Archives

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.

Air-to-air refuellers kept Operation Okra flying

05/03/202520/03/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 990 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 1510 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 1401 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 939 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 1792 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 2133 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 1697 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 5043 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 1033 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 1019 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 828 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 1978 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 1588 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 1291 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 1982 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

Corporal Christopher Meldrum, an avionics technician from 33 Squadron, during Exercise Talisman Sabre 23 at RAAF Base Darwin. Story and photo by Leading Aircraftman Chris Tsakisiris.

ADF People

From the runway to the sky

11/08/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1172 Views 0 Comments Exercise Talisman Sabre, KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport, No. 33 Squadron, RAAF Amberley, RAAF Darwin

Corporal Christopher Meldrum finds fixing an aircraft one of the most rewarding parts of being an aircraft technician in the

Flight Lieutenant Shiva Tejwani is presented with a Gold Defence Commendation for Technical Member of the Year by First Assistant Secretary Major Surface Combatants & Combat Systems Sheryl Lutz at the EngTech 23 Conference at the Australian Defence Force Academy in Canberra. Story by Private Nicholas Marquis.

ADF People

Kicking goals in engineering

08/08/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1131 Views 0 Comments Australian Defence Force Academy, C-17A Globemaster III, KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport

Flight Lieutenant Shiva Tejwani has been named the Engineering and Technical Function Professional Engineer of the Year and received a

Japan Air Self-Defense Force, Major General Hiroaki Sakanashi, right, with Wing Commander Neil Bowen at 33 Squadron, RAAF Base Amberley, Queensland. Story by Flight Lieutenant Julia Ravell. Photo by Leading Aircraftwoman Taylor Anderson.

News Royal Australian Air Force

RAAF/Japan make giant leap in air-to-air refuelling

20/07/202321/07/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1354 Views 0 Comments Aircraft Research and Development Unit, Japan Air Self-Defense Force, KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport, No. 33 Squadron, RAAF Amberley

Defence cooperation between the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) and the RAAF took a significant leap forward last month. CAPTION: Japan

Australian Army soldiers disembark a RAAF KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport at RAAF Base Darwin after their deployment to the United Kingdom on Operation Kudu. Story by Captain Annie Richardson. Photo by Captain Annie Richardson.

Australian Army News

Aussies return after training Ukrainians

04/07/202305/07/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1787 Views 1 Comment KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport, Operation Kudu, RAAF Darwin, Ukrainian Armed Forces (UAF)

The soldiers of rotation two of Operation Kudu touched down on Australian soil in time for Territory Day, greeted by

RAAF Sergeant Georgia Hannah was recognised in the King's Birthday awards. Story and photo by Corporal Luke Bellman.

ADF People

Combing through design fault reaps reward

16/06/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1967 Views 1 Comment Honours List, KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport

When Sergeant Georgia Hannah was confronted with complex bandwidth and network architecture complications for the VIP communications system aboard RAAF’s

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