Landmark flight: US tanker refuels Russian jets in Malaysia
Story by KMO • 22h •
The American KC-135 Stratotanker performed an air refueling operation with Russian Su-30MKM fighters for the first time in a public setting. This operation was conducted as part of a military partnership between the United States and Malaysia.
On November 12, 2024, at the RMAF Subang Air Base in Malaysia, a unique aerial refueling took place. An American KC-135 tanker, affiliated with the 141st Air Refueling Wing of the Washington Air National Guard, refueled three Malaysian Su-30MKM fighters. This event marks the first publicly known instance of a USAF aircraft refueling Russian Su-30 jets in mid-air.
Americans refueled Russian aircraft
According to the U.S. Air Force, the partnership with Malaysia, which began in 2017, aims to enhance interoperability and operational capabilities among partners in the Indo-Pacific region. Joint activities like this refueling operation strengthen initiatives that leverage specific U.S. capabilities alongside those developed in collaboration with allies. "Through such ventures, we can effectively utilize our strategic and cultural advantages to achieve shared goals in the Indo-Pacific," stated USAF representatives.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/landmark-flight-us-tanker-refuels-russian-jets-in-malaysia/ar-AA1u4TAI?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=HCTS&cvid=9ae6006273074856b8d770b92772c619&ei=100
