Simply over a month after the primary take a look at, the A-10C is now flying within the Center East with the brand new Probe Refueling Adapter which permits it to refuel from the HC-130J with the probe and drogue system.
The U.S. Air Drive has launched the primary images displaying the A-10C Thunderbolt II assault jet utilizing the Probe Refueling Adapter within the Center East to refuel from an HC-130J Fight King II. The system was first examined in early April to provide the A-10 a brand new probe and drogue air refueling functionality and considerably broaden its refueling choices.
The shut air help plane has been up to now depending on the KC-135 Stratotanker, as it’s not but cleared to refuel from the newer KC-46 Pegasus. An pressing combatant command requirement thus emerged to deal with operational availability of aerial refueling in theater, with the aim of refueling the A-10 from C-130-based tankers.
The brand new images, launched on Could 21, 2026, present A-10s refueling from an HC-130J within the U.S. Central Command space of accountability on Could 9, 2026. The Warthogs are assigned to the 107th Fighter Squadron from Selfridge ANGB, Michigan, which arrived within the Center East in early April.
The images have been launched only a day after a video displaying the primary use of the brand new probe by the A-10s from Moody Air Drive Base, Georgia. The refueling, performed on Could 19, equally used an HC-130J as tanker.
Notably, the A-10s photographed within the Center East are additionally outfitted with the Indignant Kitten digital warfare pod. The pod, which noticed the primary fight use throughout Operation Epic Fury aboard the F-16s flying Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD) missions, was beforehand examined on the A-10 however by no means publicly seen in an operational setting overseas.
Probe Refueling Adapter
One of many distinguishing traits of the A-10C is its air refueling receptable on the nostril, simply in entrance of the cockpit, the place the tanker’s operator plugs the flying growth. Nonetheless, with KC-10 tankers retired and KC-46 certification pending, A-10s remained depending on KC-135s for aerial refueling, severely restraining the planning of missions.
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Thus, an pressing combatant command requirement aimed to deal with operational availability of aerial refueling in theater with using C-130-based tankers. In a brief timeframe, a Probe Refueling Adapter was designed and examined for the primary time on Apr. 2, 2026.
As it may be seen within the images, the adapter suits into the air refueling receptacle on the nostril of the A-10. As soon as put in, this converts the plane from its customary growth refueling configuration to a probe and drogue system.
The Air Nationwide Guard Air Drive Reserve Command Take a look at Heart (AATC) says the probe adapter is a field-configurable resolution, and thus could be put in by operational flight line personnel “in a matter of hours,” with out having to resort to depot amenities. This permits “plane to be reconfigured between growth and probe refueling functionality based mostly on mission necessities,” explains the assertion.
The difficulties of the testing with the KC-46 have been reportedly associated to the growth, and particularly an actuator contained in the growth which prevents the A-10C to be refueled additionally due to its low pace. The A-10 is notoriously slower than different fighter jets at the moment in service with the U.S. Air Drive, with its most pace listed as 420 miles per hour (Mach 0.56), or 365 knots at sea stage.
Usually, fighter jets in U.S. service refuel at round 300 knots, whereas the A-10C reportedly refuels at round 200 knots. This clearly forces the KC-46 to fly at a really low pace will probably being nonetheless at its most weight in the beginning of a refueling mission, whereas a C-130-based tanker can fly a lot simply at decrease speeds and altitudes.
Clearly, a C-130 tanker with a flying growth refueling system doesn’t exist, whereas a number of C-130 variants are able to air refueling with the probe and drogue system and they’re already in service. Contemplating that the brand new probe in put in on prime of the present air refueling port, it’s potential that the coaching required to pilots, earlier than being cleared to make use of the brand new refueling system, shall be quick.
Indignant Kitten pod
The Indignant Kitten digital warfare pod, initially born as a coaching pod derived from the AN/ALQ-167, has advanced as a modular DFRM-based digital warfare pod and is now at its first fight employment. The system was first noticed on the South Carolina Air Nationwide Guard’s F-16s flying in direction of the Center East shortly earlier than the start of Operation Epic Fury.
The pod was initially designed to be used on the F-16, stemming from analysis by the Georgia Tech Analysis Institute relationship again to 2013 that meant to provide a risk simulation pod for coaching use. The aim was to supply a ‘cognitive EW’ functionality that may independently assess opposing expertise and select a selected response tailor-made to that risk, in addition to quickly adapt when it encounters unfamiliar foes.
Since then, it has advanced right into a potential front-line asset, which was examined on the A-10 Thunderbolt II, the MQ-9 Reaper, the F/A-18 Hornet and C-130 Hercules. It now seems that the pod has certainly discovered its method into the front-lines.
“On the core of that expertise is Indignant Kitten’s Method Description Language structure,” says the U.S. Navy in a current characteristic article. “Georgia Tech designed TDL as a hybrid that pairs devoted {hardware} modules for pace and bandwidth with software program for advanced decision-making.”
The pod can be stated to be rapidly reprogrammable with updates pushed in real-time, with out sending it again to the contractor. The method permits fast optimization of jamming in opposition to risk techniques with decreased prices and improvement instances.
