
A U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker, from 191st Air Refueling Squadron from Salt Lake City, Utah, took part at the 2014 Aeroexpo Marrakech Trade Show in Morocco. And refueled some Royal Moroccan Air Force F-16s during its stay in North Africa.
A U.S. Air Force C-130J Super Hercules from the 37th Airlift Squadron based out of Ramstein Air Base, Germany and a KC-135 Stratotanker took part to the 2014 Aeroexpo Marrakech Trade Show.
These assets were chosen because “they are critical to the success of current and future multinational military operations in Africa.”
The importance of aerial refuelers in the region was also highlighted by the Libya War in 2011, when the U.S. had to support the air campaign with the majority of the tankers required to sustain the air strikes.
During its stay at the show, the KC-135 took also part to a training mission, during which it refueled three F-16 Block 52 jets from the Royal Moroccan Air Force as the images in this post show.
Image credit: U.S. Air Force
USAF ANG patch?
Those are indeed the fuel tanks for the F-16 Block 52 +. I believe the one without the fuel tanks might just be a regular Block 52. The UAEAF has the block 60s.
All RMAF F-16’s are fitted with PW-229 Engines, APG-68(v)9 Radar and CFTs, so all them are Block 52+. CFTs can be mounted and dismounted in more or less 2 hours soooo…..
Talking about the Utah ANG pilot, yes, it’s an American pilot. Don’t forget that a State Partnership program between the Utah Air National Guard and the RMAF has been signed in 2003 and maintained since, so Moroccans and Utahns train with eachothers materials. Here a picture of Moroccan Soldier mounting on the KC-135 before the TakeOff:
http://www.usafe.af.mil/shared/media/photodb/photos/2014/04/140421-F-XX999-001.jpg
And from the same exercise a Moroccan Pilot with the JHMCS:
http://www.usafe.af.mil/shared/media/photodb/photos/2014%5C04%5C140421-Z-QD330-008.jpg