26 Al Udeid Air Base has witnessed several milestones with the U.S. KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft: successfully developing KC-135 hot refueling operations, the first air-to-air refueling between the U.S. and Qatar, and – most recently – partnering with the Qatar Emiri Air Force to conduct KC-135 hot refueling at Doha Air Base, Qatar.
On Jan. 21, 2021, led by a Qatari police escort, a fuel truck and Airmen from the 379th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron made their way from Al Udeid AB to Doha AB, followed by multiple support agencies – each with a vital logistical role to ensure a successful operation.
Hot refueling is the process of refueling an aircraft on the ground with one or more engines still running. The process improves KC-135 mission reliability, minimizing aircraft time on the ground and making more fuel available to receiver aircraft in the region. Hot refueling also greatly reduces an aircraft’s exposure to threats during combat opera