June 30 will not be just another date for the French Air and Space Force, as the day will mark the official retirement of its three Boeing KC-135R refueling aircraft, after nearly 30 years of service since their incorporation in the mid-1990s. The occasion also reflects the progress achieved by the Institution, which has completed their replacement — along with that of the old C-135FR Stratolifters — through the adoption of the new Airbus A330 MRTT.
According to what was announced by the Air and Space Force, on June 30 a retirement ceremony will be held at Air Base (BA) 125 in Istres for the three KC-135R aircraft in service since 1996, also marking the dissolution of in-flight refueling squadron 4/31 “Sologne,” the last unit to have operated this refueling and transport platform.
In addition to the retirement of the Stratolifters that occurred years ago, the departure of the French Stratotankers puts an end to a stage of more than 60 years in service of France’s transport, refueling, and nuclear deterrence capabilities.
Reviewing their history with the French Air and Space Force, in the mid-1990s the force finalized the acquisition of three KC-135A aircraft that had been decommissioned by the United States Air Force (USAF) in 1993, and were stored at the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group.
Once their acquisition was confirmed, the aircraft were duly subjected to a process of inspection and modernization to bring their equipment and capabilities to the same level as the C-135FRs that the French Air Force had been operating for years. These works were carried out in various USAF facilities. However, unlike the Stratolifters, the French Stratotankers were not equipped with the Mk.32B refueling systems from the Cobham company.
Later, already with over a decade of service and after some failed attempts at upgrading, in 2013 these KC-135Rs underwent an improvement program, taking advantage of their lower number of flight hours and cycles compared to the C-135s.
The work was carried out by Rockwell Collins and included the installation of a new GATM Block 40 interface, new high-frequency antennas, as well as storage and transport systems, along with a reinforced floor and a cargo securing system. The tasks concluded in 2015 with the delivery of the last aircraft.
Finally, as mentioned, the KC-135Rs of the French Air Force have already been replaced through the incorporation of a significant fleet of Airbus A330 MRTT “Phénix.” Among the latest news reported by Airbus Defense and Space, on June 19 the European aerospace consortium confirmed the delivery of the thirteenth aircraft to the force, with the provision of two additional units still pending to complete the fleet of fifteen (15) ordered by the Institution.
*Photographs used for illustrative purposes.
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