The Air Mobility Command (AMC) is a late hold-out. The KDC-10 had previously been contracted to refuel Air Force aircraft including the F-15, F-16, F-22, B-52, and MC-130J.

For the first time ever, last month, an aircraft from the U.S. Air Force’s Air Mobility Command (AMC)—the command of the branch responsible for managing its aerial refueling operations—took fuel from a commercial tanker. The AMC C-17 Globemaster, took the fuel over California, on April 10, from an Omega Air Refueling KDC-10 tanker.

Omega is a private entity that has been contracted in the past to refuel other military aircraft, but never an Air Force AMC tanker. The mission was significant, according to Pete Vanagas, Omega’s director of U.S. Air Force business development, “because it marked the first instance of contracted air refueling of an Air Mobility Command aircraft.”

The Air Force has gradually been warming to the idea of using commercial refuellers for AMC aircraft. General Mike Minihan, the former commander of AMC, told Congress in summer 2024 that his team was conducting analysis of commercial refueling options and that saw “value” in the arrangement. However, Minihan cautioned that deeper analysis would be needed to ensure “that with commercial refueling, that we don’t [decrease] the readiness of those in uniform flying the tankers.”

AMC is a late hold-out, however. The KDC-10 had previously been contracted to refuel Air Force aircraft including the F-15, F-16, F-22, B-52, and MC-130J. And the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps have been using commercial refuelers for two decades.

What finally led to the first AMC-Omega link-up was the training needs of the C-17 pilot corps. As Major Ryan Vigil of the 62^nd Operational Support Squadron explained, the C-17s have “limited access to air refueling training, which can impact the currency of our pilots.” In the event of a crisis, such as a military conflict with China, that aerial refueling knowledge could be essential—and its lack could have harmful impacts on the readiness of the Air Force.

So, in an effort to remedy the “training backlog,” commercial refuelers were contracted. Vigil said that training with Omega’s commercial refuelers was very similar to the training typically conducted with the Air Force’s own refueler. “The training is very similar to what we experience with the KC-10 and KC-46,” Vigil said.

Omega’s KDC-10 is a converted McDonnell Douglas DC-10. But unlike older tankers, like the KC-10 and KC-135, which use a traditional boom pod with an operator sitting in the back to visually observe and control the refueling operation, the KDC-10 uses “an advanced optical sensor system for refueling,” similar to the one found on the newer KC-46 tanker. “While the KDC-10B utilizes a different refueling system, the procedures remain consistent with established national standards, ensuring a seamless transition for aircrews,” Senior Airman of the 62^nd, Megan Geiger, said in a statement.

The Air Force will likely continue their new partnership with Omega. “The 62d AW plans to conduct future nighttime refueling missions with the KDC-10B to further evaluate its capabilities and enhance aircrew proficiency,” Geiger wrote.

Omega, for their part, seemed pleased with the new business relationship.

“We’re proud to have been able to support air refueling training for the C-17A from JBLM,” Vanagas said. “Our team provides air refueling to the Department of Defense whenever and wherever needed. We hope to support the C-17A again in the future and build a long-lasting partnership with the 62d Airlift Wing and Air Mobility Command.”

About the Author: Harrison Kass

Harrison Kass is a defense and national security writer with over 1,000 total pieces on issues involving global affairs. An attorney, pilot, guitarist, and minor pro hockey player, Harrison joined the U.S. Air Force as a Pilot Trainee but was medically discharged. Harrison holds a BA from Lake Forest College, a JD from the University of Oregon, and an MA from New York University. Harrison listens to Dokken.

Image: Shutterstock / Alexandre Tziripouloff.

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