The UK, US and Australia have reached a major defence milestone after successfully completing a test to certify the KC-46A Pegasus tanker to refuel the E-7A Wedgetail aircraft.
This breakthrough marks a vital step in trilateral military cooperation and future mission readiness.
The test, announced on 30 April 2025 by the US Air Force’s 412th Test Wing, took place at Edwards Air Force Base in California.
It involved an Australian E-7A Wedgetail being refuelled mid-air by a US Air Force KC-46A Pegasus for the first time, under the 418th Flight Test Squadron’s Global Reach Combined Test Force.
This achievement enhances Australia’s operational reach and paves the way for the RAF and USAF to integrate the E-7A Wedgetail into their own fleets with greater speed and efficiency. Both the Royal Air Force and United States Air Force are set to field the aircraft in the coming years.
The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) played a key role in this collaborative effort. With years of experience operating the E-7A, the RAAF shared valuable insights to help streamline the development process for its allies. The UK and US now stand to benefit from Australia’s operational knowledge, accelerating their own E-7A programmes.
The test also demonstrated the growing importance of multinational defence collaboration. Boeing and the KC-46 programme team helped overcome complex data-sharing challenges between the aircraft platforms—challenges which had no existing benchmarks or procedures. Through this integrated effort, engineers and pilots ensured both safe refuelling and interoperability.
As live flight tests are due to begin in the UK, RAF personnel are gaining first-hand experience from joint trials in the US. These insights are expected to enhance the RAF’s ability to integrate the E-7A into future missions, particularly in coalition operations.
This milestone reflects the strategic importance of joint testing, system integration, and global defence partnerships in building more capable and connected air forces.
