In May, at the Squadrons that have in their equipment F-2000 aircraft, some Training activities jointly with the Royal Air Force (RAF), reconsider, develop and obtain the ability to“Hot Refuelling”which is to say, refuelling on the ground with engines running.
The activity, which saw the 51st Wing As the organiser of the first exercise, you also involved assets from the 29° Squadron of the Royal Air Force and a specialist from all the other Storms Eurofighter of the’Italian Air Force (4°, 36°, 37°), and also of the Forward Arming and Refuelling Point FARP del 3rd Wing. The first exercise event in the series took place at the airport of Istrana involving staff from all F-2000 Operational Departments and with the supervision of representatives from Combat Forces Command, from which aerotactic assets depend, of the Logistics Command, of Experimental Flight Department and 1st Aircraft Maintenance Department of Cameri.
The growing operational demands of combat aircraft’Italian Air Force This has made it necessary to develop and implement a refuelling procedure that guarantees maximum readiness and responsiveness. Refuelling the aircraft with engines running and the consequent reduction in preparation time for the next mission allows for an extension of the “tool's” capability, intensifying flight operations. This capability is increasingly important and indispensable for assets that are very often redeployed for training and operational requirements, both within national territory and beyond national borders.
The operations of “Hot Refuelling”at the 51st Wing, were carried out in complete safety and with high professionalism, also involving assets from the Royal Air Force with the intention, with respect to’Implementing Arrangement signed between the’Italian Air Force and the Royal Air Force, to increase the interoperability of maintenance operations and logistics between common air fleets and the integration of assets employed in the same operational context, specifically the F-2000 aircraft .
At the airport in Istrana, the procedure “Hot Refuelling” This was performed 15 times, for a total of 50 MC of fuel dispensed. The short time between the landing, the aircraft parking for refuelling, and the new take-off is significant.
This capability, achieved through the use of Operational Technical Certification of the Armed Forces following the technical activities conducted at the DASAS-RSV,represents a significant step forward in terms of readiness and operational reaction times that numerous international scenarios require.
Following the activity carried out at the 51st Wing and in preparation for joint training with the RAF, all other Squadrons equipped with F-2000 aircraft have also trained independently. In particular, the 4th Wing performed the first refuelling with engines running using a fixed system HRS – Griffin at the airport of Grosseto also carrying out the procedure of“Hot Refuelling” The aircraft of 3rd (F) Sqn of the RAF were deployed on 15 May 2025. Following closely behind them will be the 36th Wing and the 37th Wing they carried out the “Hot Refuelling” procedure, consolidating capacity “expeditionary” NATO request.
The success of this operation demonstrates the high level of readiness achieved by the Air Units of the’Italian Air Force e represents a further step forward in the optimisation of resources and reaction times, elements essential in any operational scenario, both national and international.
