WASHINGTON, July 11,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Today Metrea announced that it
has completed the acquisition of the French Air and Space Forces
(FASF) KC-135 aerial refueling fleet. In an agreement signed on
17 May 2024, Metrea has agreed to
acquire all fourteen of the FASF KC-135 tankers, including both the
KC-/C-135FR and KC-/C-135RG variants. The FASF is divesting this
fleet as they transition to A330-based tankers.
"With this acquisition, Metrea is putting even more 'skin in the
game' to ensure that we have the necessary fleet capacity to
provide our partners with the commercial aerial refueling support
they require for training, exercises, and force movement," said Jon
"Ty" Thomas, Head of Metrea's Air & Space Group. "As the only
provider of KC-135 commercial refueling, we ensure that US, allied,
and partners forces can train as they are very likely to operate in
a contingency — refueling behind KC-135 tankers which remain far
and away the most prevalent AAR tanker in service today and for the
foreseeable future."
The acquisition includes an initial tranche of 11 KC-/C-135FR,
which were transferred to Metrea on 26 June
2024, and a second tranche of 3 KC-135RG, which will be
transferred at a future date to be determined. The additional
aircraft join Metrea's current fleet of 4 KC-135Rs, previously
purchased from the Singapore
government. With this acquisition, Metrea now has the world's
largest commercial aerial refueling fleet and presents a tanker
fleet larger than all but four sovereign countries.
"At Metrea, we are pleased to continue the employment of these
KC-135s which served the French armed forces for over 60 years,"
said Thomas. "These aircraft were maintained to the highest
standard while in French service and we will continue to do the
same as we put them to work as commercial assets. We are excited to
show that even more commercial AAR can now be provided to receiver
units that need our support."
Metrea is the only company to own and operate a fleet of KC-135
aircraft, offering an air-to-air refueling service that seamlessly,
safely, and professionally integrates into military aviation
training and operations. Metrea is currently on contract with US
Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) for commercial aerial refueling
support of US Navy, US Marine Corps, US Air Force and NATO/Allied
nations. The combined Metrea aviation units have flown over 130,000
hours, across multiple aircraft types, missions, and geographies in
support of US, UK, and other allied and partner government national
security objectives. Metrea's tanker aircraft are equipped with two
wing-mounted Multi-Point Refueling System (MPRS) pods which
facilitate refueling with probe equipped Navy, Marine Corps and
partner nation aircraft. To request commercial AAR support, contact
info@metrea.aero.
Over the preceding year, Metrea has further broadened the use of
commercial aerial refueling through multiple historic "firsts" in
2023:
- April 2023 - Metrea conducted the
first-ever commercial boom aerial refueling.
- June 2023 - Metrea conducted the
first-ever commercial aerial refueling of US Air Force
aircraft.
- October 2023 - Metrea conducted
the first-ever commercial aerial refueling of US Air Force fighter
aircraft, refueling USAF A-10's.
About Metrea
Metrea provides effects-as-a-service to national security
partners in five domains and over a dozen mission-centric solution
areas, including airborne ISR, electronic warfare, secure
communications, aerial refueling, special mission aviation, and
advanced simulation.
Metrea is headquartered in Washington,
DC with facilities across the
United States, the United
Kingdom, and the EU.
MEDIA CONTACT:
communications@metrea.aero
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SOURCE Metrea