The Royal Air Force (RAF) will deploy a Voyager tanker to provide air-to-air refueling for Saudi fighter jets as the kingdom responds to a new wave of Houthi drone and missile attacks.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said on Monday that the UK had accepted a Saudi request for defensive refueling support for a limited period. One Voyager is expected to begin the mission within days.
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The British government has described the deployment as defensive. The tanker will extend the endurance of Saudi aircraft involved in operations against incoming threats, but the UK has not announced the participation of RAF fighter jets in the mission.
The decision follows renewed Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia, including drones and missiles launched toward the kingdom. Recent strikes have also targeted Saudi energy infrastructure.
14 Airbus A330 MRTT aircraft
Voyager is the British designation for the Airbus A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport and is the RAF’s only air-to-air refueling aircraft. The type is also used for strategic transport and can carry up to 109 tonnes of fuel without additional tanks.
The UK acquired 14 aircraft under the Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft program. Nine form the core fleet available to the Ministry of Defence, including eight aircraft on the military register and one civilian-registered A330 primarily used for the South Atlantic air bridge.
Another five form a surge fleet managed by AirTanker. Three have been converted for commercial operations, while two are currently maintained in military configuration to help guarantee availability as the fleet undergoes heavier maintenance.
KC2 and KC3 use different refueling systems
RAF Voyagers exist in two tanker configurations. The KC2 has two underwing hose-and-drogue refueling pods, allowing it to refuel two compatible fighter jets simultaneously.
The KC3 adds a fuselage refueling unit with a third hose on the aircraft centerline. This allows the Voyager to refuel larger compatible aircraft in addition to using its two wing pods for fighters.
The 14-aircraft fleet was supplied with seven two-point and seven three-point capable tankers. The UK has not identified the individual Voyager assigned to the Saudi mission or said whether it will be a KC2 or KC3.
