Japanese stealth fighter F-35 refueled with running engines for the first time in history
The Japanese Air Self-Defense Forces have marked an important milestone. For the first time, the military service has carried out a “hot” refueling of the fifth-generation F-35 Lightning II fighter jet outside the country.
Last month, Japanese experts were able to replenish the fuel supply in F-35 Lightning II fighters with F135 engines on. It happened on August 28, 2023, at Andersen Air Force Base on the island of Guam.
The 36th Wing reported the incident the day before. Its representative said that refueling with the engine running makes it possible to increase the number of flights, reducing turnaround time by 45 minutes.
For the first time in its history, Japan’s fifth-generation F-35A fighter jets participated in operations outside the country. In addition to the island of Guam, they visited the Tindal and Darwin bases of the Royal Australian Air Force. Four planes arrived in Australia from Misawa base. Along with it, a C-130 Hercules transport aircraft, a KC-767 aerial refueling tanker and two C-2 Greyhound cargo aircraft took part in the exercise.
