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        Site RegistrationU.S. Air Force LogoAir Force

        Policy UpdatesNewsroomReoptimizationBIOGRAPHIESAF Senior Leaders      An MC-130J from the 9th Special Operations Squadron refuels two F-35A Lightning IIs from the 388th Fighter Wing at Cannon Air Force Base, N.M., during a Forward Air Refueling Point training exercise Feb. 27. This is the first time refueling operations between an MC-130J and an F-35 have been practiced. (U.S. Air Force photo by Micah Garbarino)F-35A maintainers, special ops team up for forward refueling
                        
                        
                        An MC-130J Commando II from the 9th Special Operations Squadron refuel two F-35A Lightning IIs from the 388th Fighter Wing at Cannon Air Force Base, N.M., during a Forward Air Refueling Point training exercise Feb. 27, 2019. This is the first time refueling operations between an MC-130J and an F-35 have been practiced. (U.S. Air Force photo by Micah Garbarino)
                
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        Lt. Col. Maxwell Cover, assigned to the 388th Fighter Wing at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, taxis during Forward Area Refueling Point training at Cannon Air Force Base, N.M., Feb. 26, 2019. This was the first time FARP training was conducted by an MC-130J for the F-35A aircraft as it expands its reach and capabilties. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Luke Kitterman)F-35A maintainers, special ops team up for forward refueling
                        
                        
                        Lt. Col. Maxwell Cover, assigned to the 388th Fighter Wing at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, taxis during Forward Area Refueling Point training at Cannon Air Force Base, N.M., Feb. 26, 2019. This was the first time FARP training was conducted by an MC-130J Commando II for the F-35A Lightning II aircraft as it expands its reach and capabilities. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Luke Kitterman)
                
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        A refueling hose splits in two directions out of the back of a MC-130J during the start of Forward Area Refueling Point training for F-35A aircraft at Cannon Air Force Base, N.M., Feb. 27, 2019. This was the first time FARP training was conducted by an MC-130J for the F-35A aircraft as it expands its reach and capabilties. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Luke Kitterman)F-35A maintainers, special ops team up for forward refueling
                        
                        
                        A refueling hose split in two directions out of the back of a MC-130J Commando II during the start of Forward Area Refueling Point training for F-35A Lightning II aircraft at Cannon Air Force Base, N.M., Feb. 27, 2019. This was the first time FARP training was conducted by an MC-130J for the F-35A aircraft as it expands its reach and capabilities. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Luke Kitterman)
                
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        Two special tactics airman provide over watch as two logistics airman from the 27th Special Operations Logistics Readiness Squadron refuel an F-35A from the 388th Fighter Wing Feb 27. This is the first time the F-35 has been refueled from an MC-130J during a Forward Air Refueling Point exercise. (U.S. Air Force photo by Micah Garbarino)F-35A maintainers, special ops team up for forward refueling
                        
                        
                        Two special tactics members observe as Airmen from the 27th Special Operations Logistics Readiness Squadron, Cannon Air Force Base, N.M., refuel an F-35A Lightning II from the 388th Fighter Wing, Hill AFB, Utah, Feb 27, 2019. This is the first time the F-35 has been refueled from an MC-130J Commando II during a Forward Air Refueling Point exercise. (U.S. Air Force photo by Micah Garbarino)
                
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F-35A maintainers, special ops team up for forward refuelingPublished Feb. 28, 2019
                    
                    
                    388th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
            **CANNON AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. (AFNS) --**America’s most advanced aircraft integrated with a variant of one of its oldest and truest airframes this week to provide more combat flexibility to the Air Force.For the first time, Airmen from the 388th Fighter Wing at Hill Air Force Base, Utah and Airmen from the 26th Special Tactics Squadron and the 27th Special Operation Logistics Readiness Squadron at Cannon AFB, trained and carried out a Forward Air Refueling Point operation from the MC-130J Commando II to the F-35A Lightning II.During this forward refueling scenario, an MC-130J lands at a remote airfield secured and managed by Air Force combat controllers. The C-130 crew, made up of loadmasters and fuels troops quickly set up equipment and fuel lines, then transfer fuel from the MC-130J to other aircraft landing behind them – in this case, an F-35A.The training is a building block in adaptive basing development. Adaptive basing is a key component to providing air power in highly-contested modern warfare. To succeed, Airmen from different platforms and different specialties must train to work together effectively, planners said.“We’re really experienced at FARP operations with fourth-generation aircraft like the F-16 (Fighting Falcon) and the A-10 (Thunderbolt II) but this is the first time we’ve done it with the F-35,” said Maj. Meghan O’Rourke, an MC-130J combat systems officer with the 9th Special Operations Squadron and one of the organizers of the exercise.The 9th SOS has refueled F-22 Raptors and is traditionally a place where new operations are given a trial run, O’Rourke said.Expanding FARP operations with the F-35A will provide commanders more options in a near-pear fight where other support may be limited.“Setting up a FARP gives us flexibility in planning because we now have the capability to land in a remote location, refuel, potentially re-arm and go take the fight to the enemy, and the F-35 can bring a lot to the fight.” said Lt. Col. Matthew Olsen, director of operations for the 421st Fighter Squadron and one of the F-35 pilots who flew to Cannon AFB.The training brought together pilots, maintainers, special operators and planners.The maintenance footprint for the training was adaptive too. A small group of Blended Operational Lightning Technicians from the 388th Maintenance Group traveled to Cannon AFB to provide training and support to the special operations airmen.“It’s been very valuable to interface with the refueling troops and special-ops guys,” said Master Sgt. Dantorrie Herring, 388th MXG. “A lot of lessons learned and we demonstrated that we can do this with a small group of BOLT Airmen.”Instead of bringing a group of 12 F-35A maintainers, Herring brought three F-35 BOLTs who are trained in multiple aspects of maintenance. In scenarios like FARP operations, the BOLT program can reduce manpower by more than 65 percent.“If you think about doing this ‘real-world,’ we want the smallest footprint we can have,” Herring said. “With adaptive basing and BOLT you don’t have to send the whole unit.”f-16 



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