The RCAF’s Desire To Rely on Allies Or Contract Out Air-To-Air Refuelling For Its Future Fighter Aircraft – Will It Work?

Photo above- PACIFIC OCEAN (July 24, 2012) A Royal Canadian Air Force CC-150 Polaris air-to-air refueling aircraft from 8 Wing Trenton, Ontario, refuels Canadian CF-18 Hornets from 425 Tactical Fighter Squadron in Bagotville, Quebec, over the Pacific Ocean during the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2012 exercise. (Canadian Forces photo by MCpl Marc-Andre Gaudreault/Released)

January 18, 2013. David Pugliese - Defence Watch

There’s been some interesting fallout from the Canadian Forces’ decision on the future of air-to-air refuelling in the RCAF.

As Defence Watch readers may recall, the KMPG audit on the F-35 released recently contained quite a tidbit of information – the audit by KMPG  noted that the cost of modifying the F-35s so they can be refuelled in mid-air by Canadian aircraft was not being included in the overall cost of the fighter because DND will not proceed with those modifications.

“With respect to air-to-air refuelling requirements, DND will rely on NORAD, coalition partners, or commercial refuelling assets to meet operational requirements,” stated the audit. That’s the information that the auditors had been provided with by DND.

The RCAF further added: “It is the government’s intention to maintain a strategic aerial refuelling capability no matter which fighter is chosen. Officials are tasked to study various options to deliver uninterrupted air-to-air refuelling capabilities.”

That study focuses on NORAD, allies and commercial refuelling assets.

But critics say this decision raises key issues about Canadian sovereignty and military capabilities. If you don’t have your own capability conduct long-range strategic refuelling of your fighter jets, then that is a significant drawback.

Then there is the question of availability of allied refuellers. “The supply of tankers in allied air forces is not infinitely large,” noted defence analyst Martin Shadwick. “It’s not like there is a bottomless pit.”

The general consensus is that this is being done by the RCAF to keep costs down on any future fighter aircraft but in particular the F-35 (is selected).

The RCAF had hoped (and still hopes according to various officers) to purchase the F-35A which uses a boom refuelling system. The RCAF’s existing CC-150 Polaris air- to-air refuelling aircraft are only capable of fuelling aircraft using the probe and drogue system, which is used by the F35-B and C.

More from the RCAF:

As part of the Air Force Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) program, two CC-150 Polaris aircraft have been converted to strategic air-to-air refuellers for Canada’s fleet of CF-18 Hornet fighter aircraft. The Polaris MRTT is capable of transferring 36,000 kilograms (79,380 pounds) of fuel to receiving aircraft over a journey of 4,630 kilometres (2,875 statute miles). Consequently, one Polaris tanker can ferry a flight of four CF 18 Hornets non-stop across the Atlantic Ocean.