EADS North America KC-45 tanker program marks milestone with first aerial refueling contacts from fuselage hose unit

The fuselage-mounted hose-and-drogue aerial refueling system for the EADS North America KC-45 tanker has performed its first in-flight refueling contacts, with an F/A-18 fighter aircraft.

This latest accomplishment builds on more than 1,300 aerial refueling contacts already completed with the KC-45's other refueling systems for the U.S. Air Force, which include an advanced aerial refueling boom and wing-mounted hose-and-drogue refueling pods.

Airbus Military completed a series of dry contacts on Dec. 13 using the first A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) for the U.K. Royal Air Force, one of four U.S. allies that have selected the tanker over Boeing tankers in four straight competitions.

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