Six SwAF Gripen fighters from the F21 Luleå flew to the Beja airbase in Portugal to participate in the Trident Juncture 2015. The journey took six hours and the jets were refueled twice in flight.
The video shows the Gripen aircraft being refueled using the probe-and-drogue method where the Gripen fighter’s retractable probe meets the trailing drogue on the tanker and fuel is transferred. Once the transfer is complete, Gripen can retract the probe and the tanker can reel back the fuel line and drogue assembly before continuing the flight.
Trident Juncture 2015, which is currently taking place in Italy, Spain and Portugal, is NATO’s largest exercise since 2012 with the participation of 9 partners, 28 allies, 18 observer nations and 12 international organizations. The exercise is defensive in nature with fictional scenarios and adversaries.
Source: GripenBlogs.com
