Landmark flight: US tanker refuels Russian jets in Malaysia

On November 12, 2024, at the RMAF Subang Air Base in Malaysia, a unique aerial refueling took place. An American KC-135 tanker, affiliated with the 141st Air Refueling Wing of the Washington Air National Guard, refueled three Malaysian Su-30MKM fighters. This event marks the first publicly known instance of a USAF aircraft refueling Russian Su-30 jets in mid-air.

According to the U.S. Air Force, the partnership with Malaysia, which began in 2017, aims to enhance interoperability and operational capabilities among partners in the Indo-Pacific region. Joint activities like this refueling operation strengthen initiatives that leverage specific U.S. capabilities alongside those developed in collaboration with allies. "Through such ventures, we can effectively utilize our strategic and cultural advantages to achieve shared goals in the Indo-Pacific," stated USAF representatives.

The Aviationist reported that the operation employed the Multi-Point Refueling System (MPRS), which allows the refueling of various aircraft thanks to two refueling stations located on the wings. Malaysian Su-30s, like other aircraft from the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps, are equipped with an IFR probe that requires hose refueling, as opposed to USAF aircraft that utilize the boom system. It's noteworthy that the boom is a rigid telescopic extension operated by the crew of the flying tanker.

The MPRS system on the KC-135 allows it to refuel in both boom and hose mode, making the tanker versatile and able to simultaneously serve different units. Initially designed exclusively for boom refueling, the KC-135 gained this capability in the 1990s during operations in Iraq, when the MPRS system enabled the efficient refueling of many allied aircraft. The KC-135 can carry nearly 200,000 pounds of aviation fuel.