Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 News
    
        Photos

    Week in Photos

    Air Force TV

    Commentaries

    Features

    Art

    About Us
    
        Air Force Senior Leaders
    
        SECAF

    CSAF

    CMSAF

    Biographies

    Fact Sheets

    SECAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library
    
        CSAF Leadership Library 2022

    CSAF Leadership Library 2021

    CSAF Reading List Pre-2020 Archive
    
        2018 CSAF Reading List

    2017 CSAF Reading List

    2016 CSAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library 2023

    CMSAF Leadership Library

    50 Years of the CMSAF

    Adjunct Professors

    Air Force Strategic Documents

    Arctic Strategy

    Empowered Airmen

    State Licensure Portability

    Careers

    AF Federal Advisory Committees

    AF 75th Anniversary

    Policy Updates

    AF Content Management

    Contact Us

    AF Sites
    
        Site RegistrationU.S. Air Force LogoAir Force

        Policy UpdatesNewsroomReoptimizationBIOGRAPHIESAF Senior Leaders      A KC-46A Pegasus, assigned to McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas, sits on the flightline at Morón Air Base, Spain, April 17, 2022. The aircraft is one of four participating in the first KC-46 Employment Concept Exercise, ECE 22-03. The exercise is part of Air Mobility Command’s strategy to employ the KC-46A for operational missions, prior to it reaching full operational capability. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nathan Eckert)A KC-46A Pegasus, assigned to McConnell Air Force Base, Kan., sits on the flightline at Morón Air Base, Spain, April 17, 2022. The aircraft is one of four participating in the first KC-46 Employment Concept Exercise, ECE 22-03. The exercise is part of Air Mobility Command’s strategy to employ the KC-46A for operational missions, prior to it reaching full operational capability. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nathan Eckert)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res
        


        A KC-46A Pegasus crew pose before an orientation flight with Spanish Air Force commanders April 18, 2022 at Morón Air Base, Spain. From left to right: U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Mark Nexon, Capt. Steven Strickland, Master Sgt. Clay Wonders, Capt. Seth Jackson, Lt. Col. Joshua Moores, Spanish Air Force Col. Enrique Fernandez Ambel, and Spanish Air Force Lt. Col. Ignacio Zulueta Martin. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nathan Eckert)A KC-46A Pegasus crew including: U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Mark Nexon, Capt. Steven Strickland, Master Sgt. Clay Wonders, Capt. Seth Jackson, Lt. Col. Joshua Moores, Spanish Air Force Col. Enrique Fernandez Ambel, and Spanish Air Force Lt. Col. Ignacio Zulueta Martin pose for a photo before an orientation flight with Spanish Air Force commanders, April 18, 2022 at Morón Air Base, Spain. The aircraft and crew refueled Spanish EF-18 Hornets, known in Spain as C-15s, during its first Employment Concept Exercise. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nathan Eckert)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res
        


        U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Clay Wonders (right), KC-46A Employment Concept Exercise senior enlisted lead, explains boom station procedures to Spanish Air Force commanders Col. Enrique Fernandez Ambel, 11th Wing commander, and Lt. Col. Ignacio Zulueta Martin, 11th Eurofighter Group commander, during an orientation flight April 18, 2022. As a sign of camaraderie, the commanders were gifted patches from McConnell Air Force Base’s 344th Air Refueling Squadron. In solidarity, the Spanish commanders wore them for the duration of the flight. The mission provided an opportunity to build relations with the ECE’s Spanish hosts and showcase Pegasus capabilities in international operations.  (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nathan Eckert)Spanish Air Force commanders Lt. Col. Ignacio Zulueta Martin, 11th Eurofighter Group commander and Col. Enrique Fernandez Ambel, 11th Wing commander, listen to U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Clay Wonders, KC-46A Employment Concept Exercise senior enlisted lead, as he explains boom station procedures during an orientation flight April 18, 2022. As a sign of camaraderie, the commanders were gifted patches from McConnell Air Force Base’s 344th Air Refueling Squadron. In solidarity, the Spanish commanders wore them for the duration of the flight. The mission provided an opportunity to build relations with the ECE’s Spanish hosts and showcase Pegasus capabilities in international operations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nathan Eckert)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res

KC-46A refuels first international aircraft during Employment Capability ExercisePublished April 27, 2022
                    
                    
                    Air Mobility Command Public Affairs
            **MORÓN AIR BASE, Spain (AFNS) --**In a major milestone for the **KC-46A Pegasus** program, the aircraft refueled Spanish EF-18 Hornets, known in Spain as C-15s, April 18, during its first Employment Concept Exercise, or ECE 22-03, at Morón Air Base**.**Morón Air Base commander, Spanish Air Force Col. Enrique Fernandez Ambel, observes as U.S. Air Force Capt. Steven Strickland, 344th Air Refueling Squadron KC-46A Pegasus instructor pilot, approaches to receive fuel during an orientation flight April 18, 2022. Spanish commanders joined the flight to familiarize themselves with U.S. tanker operations and witness the first-ever Pegasus refueling of an international aircraft, a Spanish EF-18 Hornet, also known in Spain as a C-15. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nathan Eckert)Morón Air Base commander, Spanish Air Force Col. Enrique Fernandez Ambel, observes as U.S. Air Force Capt. Steven Strickland, 344th Air Refueling Squadron KC-46A Pegasus instructor pilot, approaches to receive fuel during an orientation flight April 18, 2022. Spanish commanders joined the flight to familiarize themselves with U.S. tanker operations and witness the first Pegasus refueling of an international aircraft, a Spanish EF-18 Hornet, also known in Spain as a C-15. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nathan Eckert)
            
            
            Photo Details /
                Download Hi-Res

    











“The KC-46A, its aircrews, maintenance and support personnel performed magnificently over the last seven weeks in Spain,” said **Gen. Mike Minihan**, commander of **Air Mobility Command**. “They pushed hard to run the aircraft through its paces during the ECE, including supporting a bomber task force, refueling U.S. fighters over Eastern Europe, and completing the first-ever refueling of an international aircraft. AMC continues to drive toward increased refueling capability while working to overcome programmatic challenges.”
According to **Brig. Gen. Ryan Samuelson**, AMC’s KC-46A Cross Functional Team lead, the Interim Capability Release plan, of which the ECE is a part, has significantly enhanced KC-46A operations over the last 10 months.
“The Pegasus is now cleared to support nearly 85 percent of joint force receivers requesting air refueling from U.S. Transportation Command,” Samuelson said. “While the ICR brought on KC-46 mission capabilities, the ECE will now operationalize those capabilities across a spectrum of mission scenarios.”
AMC introduced the second phase of ICR on March 10, when Minihan **approved the employment of four KC-46As** and approximately 220 active, Guard and Reserve Airmen to Moron AB to conduct the first of a series of ECEs designed to enhance operational fielding and sustainment of the KC-46A.

Throughout ECE 22-03, aircraft and personnel remained under AMC authorities as they validated desired learning objectives and prepared to support theater operational missions as required. The KC-46A ICR plan allows the Pegasus to conduct operational taskings that would otherwise be filled by the **KC-135 Stratotanker** and **KC-10 Extender**, increasing the force’s air refueling capacity and further seasoning total force Pegasus aircrews with operational missions.A Spanish Air Force EF-18 Hornet, known as a C-15 in Spain, approaches a U.S. Air Force KC-46A Pegasus for refueling off the aircraft’s centerline drogue April 18, 2022. This fueling method involves trailing a long hose with a windsock called a drogue behind the tanker to refuel certain aircraft types. This mission marked the first refueling of an international receiver for the KC-46A, paving the way for future international operations.(U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nathan Eckert)A Spanish Air Force EF-18 Hornet, known as a C-15 in Spain, approaches a U.S. Air Force KC-46A Pegasus for refueling off the aircraft’s centerline drogue April 18, 2022. This fueling method involves trailing a long hose with a windsock called a drogue behind the tanker to refuel certain aircraft types. This mission marked the first refueling of an international receiver for the KC-46A, paving the way for future international operations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nathan Eckert)
            
            
            Photo Details /
                Download Hi-Res
    
    A KC-46A Pegasus from McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas, begins an overpass before landing at Morón Air Base, Spain, April 18, 2022. The aircraft participated in the first KC-46 Employment Concept Exercise, ECE22-03,  an Air Mobility Command effort to evaluate the aircraft’s ability to provide rapid global mobility capacity to future joint force operations in a contingency-like environment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nathan Eckert)A KC-46A Pegasus from McConnell Air Force Base, Kan., begins an overpass before landing at Morón Air Base, Spain, April 18, 2022. The aircraft participated in the first KC-46 Employment Concept Exercise, ECE22-03, an Air Mobility Command effort to evaluate the aircraft’s ability to provide rapid global mobility capacity to future joint force operations in a contingency-like environment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nathan Eckert)
            
            
            Photo Details /
                Download Hi-Res
    
    A Spanish Air Force EF-18 Hornet, known in Spain as a C-15, from Torrejón Air Base, Spain, pulls away after refueling from a U.S. Air Force KC-46A Pegasus based at McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas, April 18, 2022. The Spanish fighter is the first international aircraft to be refueled by the Pegasus. McConnell’s aircrew and four KC-46As were in Spain for the aircraft’s first Employment Concept Exercise, ECE 22-03, which is designed to further operational testing and evaluation, increase proficiency among aircrews and support personnel, and strengthen aircraft sustainment operations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nathan Eckert)A Spanish Air Force EF-18 Hornet, known in Spain as a C-15, from Torrejón Air Base, Spain, pulls away after refueling from a U.S. Air Force KC-46A Pegasus based at McConnell Air Force Base, Kan., April 18, 2022. The Spanish fighter is the first international aircraft to be refueled by the KC-46A. The aircrew and four KC-46As were in Spain for the aircraft’s first Employment Concept Exercise, ECE 22-03, which is designed to further operational testing and evaluation, increase proficiency among aircrews and support personnel, and strengthen aircraft sustainment operations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nathan Eckert)
            
            
            Photo Details /
                Download Hi-Res
The mission also provided an opportunity to build relations with its Spanish hosts and showcase what the Pegasus can bring to international operations with allies and partners.
Despite existing restrictions and deficiencies, the KC-46A continues to demonstrate its growing operational capabilities. The Pegasus offloaded more than 78 million pounds of fuel and completed more than 34,900 boom and 2,200 drogue contacts since January 2019.
As of April 26, the Air Force has 57 KC-46As in its inventory. The KC-46A currently operates out of McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas; Seymour Johnson Air Reserve Base, North Carolina; Pease Air National Guard Base, New Hampshire; Joint Base McGuire Dix Lakehurst, New Jersey; and Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma.LR 



USAF 



AF 



Air Force 



KC-46A Pegasus 



KC-46A 



Employment Combat Exercise 



ECE 



McConnell AFB 



22nd ARW 



airpower 



Gen. Mike Minihan 



Air Mobility Command 



AMC 



Spain 



EF-118 Hornet 



C-15 



Aircraft 



mission 



training 



readiness 



Lethality 



KC-135 Stratotanker 



KC-10 Extender Featured News
        Senior Leader Priorities
                DAF leaders talk budget, reoptimizing the force
                    
                    DAF leaders speak at National Character and Leadership Symposium
                    
                    DAF members recognized during BEYA STEM awards
                    
                    DAF senior enlisted advisors discuss Airmen, Guardians in the fight
                    
                    SecAF Kendall AFA Warfare Symposium Q&A: Reoptimizing for Great Power CompetitionInnovation
                AFWERX director discusses role of tech startups, quick innovation in Great Power Competition
                    
                    DAF delivers lethality at the speed of data during Project Convergence Capstone 4
                    
                    DAF welcomes industry partners to HQ development program
                    
                    DAF announces Spark Tank 2024 finalists
                    
                    Chief Digital, Artificial Intelligence Office to host hackathon in HawaiiMAJCOM News
                Safety enterprise announces new mission, vision, goals in 2024 strategic plan
                    
                    Air Combat Command welcomes new commander
                    
                    USAFE-AFAFRICA commander discusses Integrated Air, Missile Defense during Munich Security Conference
                    
                    Flosi to AFMC family: Embrace change, make every day count
                    
                    AMC rises to increasing global tension
 Quick Links
AccessibilityContact UsEqual OpportunityFOIA | Privacy | Section 508Information QualityInspector GeneralJAG Court-Martial DocketLink DisclaimerNo FEAR ActOpen GovernmentOSI Tip LinePlain LanguageQuestionsResilienceRSSSite MapVeterans Crisis LineCareers
Join the Air ForceAir Force BenefitsAir Force CareersAir Force ReserveAir National GuardCivilian ServiceConnect
            Get Social with Us
            
            Official United States Air Force Website
    Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil