US Air Force (USAF) F-22A Raptor and Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) F-35A Lightning II fighters conducted joint hot pit refueling operations at RAAF Base Curtin, Australia.
Hot pit refueling enables quick aircraft refueling while engines remain running, ensuring sustained airpower. The operation showcased the ability of US and Australian forces to rapidly deploy and maintain combat readiness in austere environments.
“We demonstrated the ability for USAF and RAAF to integrate F-22s with F-35s and deploy outback to a bare base in western Australia,” said a US Air Force F-22A pilot in a press release. “Our goal in going was to continue to develop techniques and procedures for non-standard operating locations and prove that we can rapidly and effectively deploy air power to any location, no matter how remote.”
The operation involved the USAF 27th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron and the RAAF 75th Squadron and was supported by logistics teams from both nations, which handled the movement of personnel, fuel, and cargo.
This demonstration was part of a broader effort by the US Air Force and other Western air forces to hone their ability to operate from austere or degraded locations, a concept known within NATO as Agile Combat Employment (ACE).
The ACE doctrine, which originated during the Cold War era, has regained interest due to the potential resurgence of high-intensity warfare. Expanding operating locations to civilian airfields or improvised road bases enables the subsistence of airpower without relying on established air bases.