Meta Aerospace awarded NAVAIR aerial refuelling contract
The third Meta Aerospace KC-135R in company colours depart Singapore’s Paya Lebar Air Base on 16 August. (Eric Kuan)
The American service provider has recently taken delivery of its third of four ex-Singapore KC-135R tankers.
Meta Aerospace announced on 30 July that a consortium between its Strategic Mobility team and CASS Professional Services had been awarded a commercial aerial refuelling service contract by the US Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR).
Meta Aerospace confirmed in October 2020 that it had acquired four former Republic of Singapore Air Force Boeing KC-135R tankers. These had served for 19 years before being withdrawn in July 2019.
Following overhaul by ST Engineering, three KC-135Rs have been received by Meta Aerospace thus far. The third KC-135 in full Meta Strategic Mobility colours was ferried out from Singapore on 16 August.
Two
Our news & analysis is now part of Defence Insight®
A Basic-level or higher Defence Insight subscription is now required to view this content.
More from Air Warfare
-
![“Fifth-gen capability without the cost”: how autonomous strike can change the face of air warfare]()
“Fifth-gen capability without the cost”: how autonomous strike can change the face of air warfare
In Conversation… Armor Harris, Senior Vice President for Aircraft at Shield AI, talks to Shephard’s Gerrard Cowan about why cost-effective autonomous aircraft are a game-changer for air forces worldwide, and the key roles played by VTOL and AI as enabling technologies.
-
![NATO’s GlobalEye selection reflects a move towards greater European defence autonomy]()
NATO’s GlobalEye selection reflects a move towards greater European defence autonomy
The joint acquisition of Saab’s GlobalEye AEW&C aircraft by 11 allies marks the end of NATO’s more than four-decade reliance on a US-built airborne early warning platform.
-
![NATO expands high-altitude intelligence capability with MQ-4C Triton purchase]()
NATO expands high-altitude intelligence capability with MQ-4C Triton purchase
The proposed drone acquisition is intended to form part of a distributed structure of surveillance capabilities, complementing systems such as the RQ-4D Global Hawks already acquired by NATO.
-
![US Air Force lays the groundwork to move the F-15EX acquisition to lots 7 and 8]()
US Air Force lays the groundwork to move the F-15EX acquisition to lots 7 and 8
Procurement of the Eagle Passive Active Warning Survivability System for future production lots signals the air force's commitment to an expanded 267-aircraft Eagle II fleet while sustaining full electronic warfare capability on every fighter.
