From April 16, 2021 USAFE - AFAFRICA commenced
with Operation Copper Arrow. Air Refueling Wings assigned to the Air
National Guard and Air Reserve Command will deploy with the KC-10A
Extender, KC-46K Pegasus or KC-135R/T Stratotankers to Ramstein Air
Base, Germany during 2021.
Operation Copper Arrow is funded by the European Deterrence Initiative
(EDI). EDI also funds the well known Operation Atlantich Resolve
deployments. Based on its needs USAFE - AFAFRICA can submit a Request
for Forces. In the past this has been done with F-22A Raptor and F-35A
Lightning II deployments to the European are of responsibility. USAFE -
AFAFRICA Tanker Operations will now oversee a single mission combining
the air refueling missions flown from RAF Mildenhall, United Kingdom,
Geilenkirchen AB, Germany and Ramstein.
USAFE - AFAFRICA requested additional refueling aircraft to support its
missions and training requirements for both its own wings as well as to
support allied countries providing them an additional AAR refueling
capability. On the April 16 a KC-135R assigned to the 190th Air
Refueling Wing, Kansas ANG flew a mission with a NATO E-3A assigned to
the NAEW&CF based at Geilenkirchen, Germany.
Based at RAF Mildenhall, United Kingdom the 100th Air Refueling Wing "Bloody
Hundredth", 351st Air Refueling Squadron "Anytime Anyplace
Anywhere" (KC-135R/T) is the only Air Refueling Wing assigned to USAFE -
AFAFRICA. The wing has approximately 15 aircraft assigned and is engaged
in a high operations tempo. The deployments by their ANG and AFRC
colleagues will relief them a little. |
