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6mo ago

A-10C Can Now Refuel From C-130s With New Plug-In Probe

The field-installable probe opens C-130 tanker support to ease the A-10’s refueling bottleneck.

An A-10 Thunderbolt II approaches a C-130 drogue basket during the first probe and drogue air refueling operation in the aircraft's history, April 2, 2026. The Probe Refueling Adapter was developed to meet an urgent combatant command requirement for increased refueling availability in theater. (Image credit: U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Master Sgt. Charles Givens)
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Overview

  • The A-10C, which completed its first probe-and-drogue contact Thursday, can now take fuel from HC-130, MC-130, and KC-130 tankers.
  • The Probe Refueling Adapter fits into the A-10’s nose receptacle and converts the jet from boom refueling to a probe setup that maintainers can install or remove in hours.
  • A rapid team led by the Air National Guard Air Force Reserve Command Test Center delivered the kit, with an industry partner building the probe, the A-10 program office overseeing integration, ARCWERX accelerating contracts, Luke AFB fabricating parts, and the 418th Flight Test Squadron flying the HC-130 test.
  • The new option addresses a gap that followed KC-10 retirements and ongoing KC-46 clearance, which left A-10 units reliant on KC-135s and facing low‑speed boom challenges reported during KC-46 testing.
  • C-130 tankers cruise at speeds and altitudes that match A-10 close air support and combat search-and-rescue work, which supports agile operations from shorter runways and gives crews more flexible refueling plans in theater.