Posted on 05/11/2010 12:25:04 PM PDT by Strategy
TEL AVIV -- Israel has developed the advanced air refueling systems that could facilitate a strike on Iran.
The officials also said the development overcame several years of refusals by Washington to supply the systems required for the 1,000 kilometer flight from Israel to Iran.
Officials said the Israel Air Force has overseen the development and deployment of air refueling systems for its U.S.-origin fighter-jet fleet.
(Excerpt) Read more at worldtribune.com ...
Israeli Boeing 707 tanker fleet. There is now an eigth 707 in service since I compiled the following list.
Serial 140
http://www.airliners.net/photo/Israel-—Air/Boeing-707-329/1036674/L/
Serial 248
http://www.airliners.net/photo/Israel-—Air/Boeing-707-331C(KC)/1100059/L/
Serial 250
http://www.airliners.net/photo/Israel-—Air/Boeing-707-331C(KC)/1364441/L/
Serial 260
http://www.airliners.net/photo/Israel-—Air/Boeing-707-3J6B(KC)/1493473/L/
Serial 264
http://www.airliners.net/photo/Israel-—Air/Boeing-707-3J6C(KC)/1456652/L/
http://www.airliners.net/photo/Israel-—Air/Boeing-707-3J6C/1240844/L/
Serial 275
http://www.airliners.net/photo/Israel-—Air/Boeing-707-3P1C(KC)/1215110/L/
Serial 290
http://www.airliners.net/photo/Israel-—Air/Boeing-707-3W6C(KC)/1179421/L/
http://www.f-16.net/news_article479.html
Go here, I need to find the exact link, but this eludes to it, IAI did some work for the Brits...
You are mixing up the Royal Australian Air Force with the Royal Air Force. Snippet from link you supplied. RAAF stands for ‘Royal Australian Air Force’. The ‘Royal’ is purely symbolic via the Commonwealth. Australia is an independent nation and the UK does not have any say in Australian defense matters.
‘The AAR hardware installation is based upon a design produced by the Bedek Division of Israel Aircraft Industries for the Israeli Defence Force, which has several tanker aircraft in service. The system design had some detail changes to meet the RAAF’s engineering requirements. Most of the hardware was sourced in the US and UK, with remaining components supplied as upgrade kits by IAI. The Mk.32B refuelling pods were manufactured and supplied by Flight Refuelling Ltd in the UK.’
Here is some history on the Royal Air Force use of jet aircraft in the tanker role. The UK only used the probe and drogue method. The same method as the US Navy.
Copy and paste if the links are not clickable.
Vickers Valiant.
http://www.214squadron.org.uk/History_the_valiant_years.htm
Later on the Victor and Vulcan were utilised as tankers.
http://www.thunder-and-lightnings.co.uk/victor/history.php
http://www.thunder-and-lightnings.co.uk/vulcan/history.html
Later on the VC-10 took on the role as dedicated tanker/transport.
http://www.vc10.net/History/RAFVC10s.html
During the 1980s the RAF purchased ex-airline Lockheed L1011 TriStar for use as tanker/transport.
http://www.raf.mod.uk/equipment/tristar.cfm
The RAF C-130 Hercules tankers were withdrawn leaving the Tristar and VC-10 s the only tankers in RAF service.
Absolutely nothing to do with Israel. All that Israel has done was copy and follow the lead of users of the flying boom and hose drogue units.
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